Tropical Cyclone Ita Buffets Australia, But Worst-Case Scenario Averted

Tropical Cyclone Ita, one of the most formidable storms to ever threaten Australia, crossed the coast of northern Queensland near Cape Flattery at about 10 p.m. local time on April 11. Fortunately for those affected by the storm, it made landfall in considerably weaker shape compared to its peak intensity as a high-end Category 4 storm on the U.S. Saffir-Simpson scale, and a Category 5 storm on the Australian scale, with wind gusts of close to 190 miles per hour.

At landfall, the storm had maximum sustained winds of about 100 miles per hour, with higher gusts. The storm is now moving south-southwest just inland, over higher terrain, making it prone to additional weakening Read more...