Ya se están produciendo evacuaciones masivas en la zona.
Yasi is expected to be packing winds of up to 280 kilometres per hour when it makes landfall as a category four system somewhere between Cairns and Innisfail at around midnight (AEST) on Wednesday.
Cyclone watch is in place for communities for Cape Melville to Cooktown, and adjacent inland areas east of Richmond.
As residents batten down, Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has warned that the storm has the potential to be the biggest the state has ever seen.
She is also warning residents in low-lying waterfront areas from Innisfail to Mackay that today will be their last chance to get out ahead of the storm's impact.
"We are very concerned about storm surges causing serious powerful flash flooding," she said.
"Every council has identified those houses most at risk and if you are in one of those areas, you should be relocating yourself and your family today.
"That means whole suburbs in some parts of the region will be looking for alternative accommodation with friends and family today.
"Today is the last opportunity that people will have to make all the preparations they need to keep themselves and their families safe.
"That means that if you are in a low-lying waterfront area, you should be thinking of relocating your family to a friend in a higher place today."
Cyclone to intensify
Forecaster Ben Suter says it is still a category three cyclone, but will intensify to a high category four system when it makes landfall, with winds reaching up to 280 kilometres an hour.
"We have strong gale force winds extending just north of Cooktown and all the way down to Bowen," he said.
"It looks like making landfall on the current forecast somewhere between Cairns and Innisfail and it does still look to be a high category four when it does so.
"The current crossing looks earlier as well, maybe around midnight [AEST] Wednesday, going into Thursday."
Mr Suter says the cyclone will cause a storm surge.
"The worst of any storm surge will probably be Innisfail southwards, particularly around Townsville, even though the charts are further north," he said.
"I think even Townsville could see a fairly storm surge.
"If this forecast track does actually go a bit further north, than obviously that storm surge risk will transfer northwards."
Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) has issued a yellow alert for all boats from Cape Flattery in Cape York to Mourilyan, south of Innisfail, out of the water.
All ports from Cairns to Mackay will be closed from late today.
Tema: Ciclón tropical severo YASI 11P, amenaza para el noreste australiano, 01-02/2011 (Leído 5284 veces)