Go early if you must: Carter

US Navy tracking of Cyclone Ului shows it likely course.

Photos

Cyclone Ului whips up big swells

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Further information

Local weather forecast

Bureau of Meteorology warnings

CYCLONE Ului could bring widespread flooding to Central Queensland as well as destructive high winds.

Speaking after chairing the region’s Local Disaster Management Group yesterday, Mayor Brad Carter warned that if people wanted to flee Ului’s potential threat they should leave early while escape routes remained open.

He warned that if the cyclone – predicted to hit the coast some where between Bowen and Gladstone this weekend – dumped large quantities of rain it could quickly cut road access.

The region was already waterlogged and rivers were running high, he said.

“A number of our rural roads have been affected by water and rain in the last couple of months,” he said, adding that any new deluge would flow into swollen watercourses.

“Members of the public thinking about leaving will have to do that a lot sooner now that the roads are not in a good state.

“If people are going to batten down they’re going to need all of their provisions and emergency services with them. Otherwise they should evacuate as early as possible.”

“With a bit of local rain and a bit of local stream activity, it will certainly increase local flooding problems,” he said.

The group decided yesterday not to activate a Disaster Co-ordination Centre at this stage, but urged residents to prepare for the worst.

“We don’t wish to alarm residents, but rather notify them to prepare their homes for severe storm activity,” he said.

People are asked to ensure homes are storm-safe by removing or securing any objects that could become airborne in a storm.

And they are being told to prepare an emergency kit containing a portable battery radio, torch and spare batteries, water containers, dried or canned food, portable stove and cooking equipment and a first-aid kit and manual.

Advice to residents also includes keeping a list of emergency phone numbers handy and checking on neighbours who are less able to cope on their own.

If the cyclone crosses the coast, forecasters believe it could cause swells of between eight and 10 metres that would lash the beaches.

The Bureau of Meteorology reported yesterday that wind speeds near the centre of the cyclone were about 90 knots. Forty nautical miles from the centre they were 64 knots and creating “phenomenal seas”.

As far as 140 nautical miles away winds were 34 knots and seas were very rough.

Yesterday afternoon the cyclone was moving very slowly over the northern Coral Sea, about 1210km north-east of Mackay.

It is expected to track south today at 6kmh and move towards the Central Queensland coast during tomorrow.

It would most likely cross the coast over the weekend.

For more details, head to the Bureau of Meteorology website.