Monsoon Weather Effects in Yeppoon
February 15, 2008
I made this video on the 12.Feb 2008 after the heavy rainfalls of the monsoon had cleared up for the first time. Until then it had rained for nearly 48 hours straight. Where we drive is actually on the wrong side of the road since the other (flooded side) was closed.
Luckily enough the road is double lined so traffic was still able to flow past the gap. This drive is on Farnborough Road heading toward Byfield along the beachfront in Yeppoon.
Virgin Airlines Merry - Go - Round
February 14, 2008
On a recent flight from Brisbane to Rockhampton a Virgin aircraft had to take 3 attempts to be able to finally touch down. A female passenger reported that she left her home in Brisbane at 7 AM on Thursday 13.Feb 2008 and didn’t get to Yeppoon until 4 PM that same day. A journey which normally only takes 50 minutes became an all day event.
Due to the excessive monsoonal rain that was flooding many roads in the area, the Virgin aircraft simply couldn’t land and had to do 2 return trips to Brisbane, each time trying to touch down in Rockhampton before unsuccessfully returning back to Brisbane again. Only on the 3rd attempt did they finally manage to land the aircraft in Rockhampton.
This is a true virgin-merry-go-round that eventually ended in a safe landing and shows how particular commercial aircraft pilots really are when it comes to the safety of their passengers.
The named passenger mentioned how they prepared themselves for the landing twice, only "to be pulled up at the last minute again".
Australia Says "We Are Sorry"
February 12, 2008
Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd says “I’m sorry, Australia is sorry, we are sorry for what has been done to the stolen generation many years ago”.
This speech has marked a truly memorable moment in Australian history to bring together a nation across divides that have spanned many decades. The foundation for the bridge has been laid and healing can finally begin.
Yeppoon’s Torrential Rainfalls Create Havoc
February 12, 2008
Yeppoon has experienced heavy rainfalls in the last 48 hours. Today was by far the biggest down poor with many local streets being closed.
The road to Emu Park was closed, as well as the road to Rockhampton for some time. Roslyn Bay was cut off from the rest of the world whichresulted in many people being stuck at work. Beaches restaurant got a direct hit with lots of electrical damage that seeped into the kitchen wrecking havoc with electrical appliances. Since the electrician couldn’t access the place due to road closures, the restaurant was only able to serve pizza’s tonight.
Other Yeppoon residents who work in Rockhampton couldn’t go to work, because of road closures. The official weather site (BOM) has recorded massive amounts of rain within a short timespan today. From 9AM Tuesday we had 130mm of rain within 24 hours. This was due to a tropical monsoon trough which battered many coastal and inland towns in Queensland today and yesterday.
Lucky enough it didn’t eventuate into a full blown cyclone which apparently is a little different from a monsoon.
Here is what weather[dot]com has to say about the difference of the two:
CYCLONE An area of closed pressure circulation with rotating and converging winds, the center of which is a relative pressure minimum. The circulation is counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere. Also called a low pressure system and the term used for a tropical cyclone in the Indian Ocean. Other phenomena with cyclonic flow may be referred to by this term, such as dust devils, tornadoes, and tropical and extra-tropical systems. The opposite of an anticyclone or a high pressure system. MONSOON The seasonal shift of winds created by the great annual temperature variation that occurs over large land areas in contrast with associated ocean surfaces. The monsoon is associated primarily with the moisture and copious rains that arrive with the southwest flow across southern India. The name is derived from the word mausim, Arabic for season. This pattern is most evident on the southern and eastern sides of Asia, although it does occur elsewhere, such as in the southwestern United States.
The system has now moved further south with the Sunshine Coast and the inland being next on the agenda. Flash floods have resulted into many people being stranded.
