Category 4 Severe Tropical Cyclone Hamish Lurks Offshore Queensland, Australia. Much Uncertainty in Forecast Track but the Worst Could Stay Offshore - 1500z 8th March 2009

The latest track from Australia's Bureau of Meteorology shows forecast track of severe tropical cyclone Hamish south along the Queensland coast.

Severe tropical cyclone Hamish is still a formidable storm with sustained winds of 95kts and gusts to a whopping 135kts according to the Bureau of Meteorology. This makes Hamish a dangerous category 4 storm on the Australian scale.

The storm is forecast to move SE along the coast and rapidly weaken under the influence of increasing wind shear and lower sea surface temperatures.. Hamish will then enter a a weak steering environment and could stall or even turn back on itself as depicted in the image above.

Communities along the east coast of Queensland between Tewantin and Yeppoon should keep a close eye on the situation should Hamish pull any surprises.

More updates to follow...

Satellite image of severe TC Hamish superimposed over Google Earth map on 8th March 2009.

Category 4 Severe Tropical Cyclone Hamish Lurks Offshore Queensland, Australia. Storm Chaser Geoff Mackley En Route to Intercept - 1100z 8th March 2009

The latest track from Australia's Bureau of Meteorology shows forecast track of severe tropical cyclone Hamish south along the Queensland coast.

Severe tropical cyclone Hamish rapidly intensified into a category 5 storm yesterday and now lurks off the east coast of Queensland Australia with sustained winds of 90kts with gusts to 130kts. This makes Hamish a dangerous category 4 storm on the Australian scale.

The storm is forecast to move SE along the coast and gradually weaken. Today I was in touch with storm chaser Geoff Mackley who is now in the town of Rockhampton waiting to intercept Hamish. I will post updates I get from him here or please visit his website www.rambocam.com

More updates to follow...