See : 256km Radar Loop for Cairns, 06:00 11/04/2014 to 06:00 12/04/2014 UTC

Tropical Cyclone Ita Visible Image JMA 11th April 2014

Spectacular vision of the eye of Tropical Cyclone Ita

Tropical Cyclone Ita 11th April 2014

Latest Image from Tropical Cyclone Ita with well formed eye – dangerous situation exists!

Tropical Cyclone Ita with eye indicating a severe organised tropical cyclone in the Coral Sea approaching Queensland’s north coast.

On April 9, the TRMM satellite saw rain falling at a rate of over 99 mm/3.9 inches per hour within Ita’s feeder bands over the coast of southeastern Papua New Guinea.
Image Credit: NASA/SSAI, Hal Pierce

Tropical Cyclone has been upgraded to a category 5 cyclone by the Bureau of Meteorology today. Ita has a distinct eye typical of severe tropical cyclones with a central pressure down to 935hPa and wind gusts near the centre anticipated at this stage to be 285km/h! The tropical cyclone’s anticipated path has only changed slightly in the last 24 to 48 hours with expected impact just north of Cooktown, Queensland. Unfortunately though, even though this is uncertain, the track veers to the south maximising its impact along the coastal region particularly in terms of very heavy rainfall and flooding.

Emergency services are on full alert at this point.