The region has experienced significant disruptions due to severe weather, with tens of thousands of residents losing power. Heavy rains, storm surges, and strong winds have caused extensive damage to properties and necessitated the closure of schools, businesses, roads, and beaches.
Understanding the implications of a Category 2 cyclone becomes pertinent in such circumstances. The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) categorises cyclones based on their maximum average wind speeds; however, these categories do not encapsulate the total impact or the other severe weather conditions a cyclone may bring. Each cyclone size can pose threats to individuals and the environment, with lower-category storms still capable of causing heavy rainfall, flooding, and storm surges.
Cyclones are classified as follows:
- A Category 1 cyclone has wind speeds ranging from 63–88 km/h, resulting in minimal structural damage and impacts on crops and caravans.
- In contrast, a Category 2 cyclone features destructive winds of 126-164 km/h, which can damage houses significantly, uproot trees, and cause power outages while affecting crops and potentially displacing small boats.
- Moving to Category 3 cyclones, wind speeds reach 165–224 km/h, leading to severe damage to buildings and widespread electrical outages, with significant destruction to trees, crops, and caravans. Additionally, any cyclone from this level on is termed ‘severe.’
Categories 4 and 5 signify extreme wind speeds, with Category 4 winds reaching 225–279 km/h and causing catastrophic damage to infrastructure and natural environments. For example, Cyclone Tracy, a Category 4 cyclone, resulted in extensive devastation in 1974. Finally, the highest classification, Category 5, entails wind speeds exceeding 200 km/h, which can inflict unparalleled destruction, exemplified by Cyclone Yasi in 2011.
The ongoing weather events highlight the devastating impact cyclones can have on individuals and communities, underscoring the necessity for preparedness and awareness in the face of such natural disasters.