Meteorologists have reported a category 4 storm, dubbed Cyclone Yasi, is due to slam into Australia and affect residents of the north Queensland area. Early models suggest Yasi could reach category 5 conditions which will see winds reach up to 300 kilometres per hour.

The storm is currently 400 miles wide and closing in on the Australian mainland, due to arrive on Wednesday morning in the same region which was affected by devastating floods recently.

An official warning has been issued to people living in the area, of which there are around 400,000. Forecasters say the storm is picking up speed and that lethal surges can be expected from the sea as it approaches, leading to more flooding of Queensland. Thousands are already thought to have left the city in anticipation for the cyclone. State Premier Anna Bligh has described it as a “monster, killer storm” and has added “So tomorrow (Wednesday) morning's cyclone modelling will give a level of precision around a 50km either way mark," Ms Bligh told reporters.

"At 5pm tomorrow (Wednesday) afternoon that will be revised further and we would hope, again, to be in a narrower band."

The Premier also stated that the storm is likely to be so destructive that residents hundreds of miles away from where the store intercepts the coastline will be affected by category one and two weather conditions. Patients in two hospitals in Cairns have been moved by the Australian Defence Force as a cautionary measure against Cyclone Yasi. Police have also been authorized to use force when carrying out mandatory evacuation orders.

Yasi is predicted to be twice as powerful as Cyclone Larry which caused $1.5 billion worth of damage in 2006.

Reported by Sam Doving.

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