CYCLONE LARRY CALLED A HIGHLY UNUSUAL CYCLONE

24 hours ago, Cyclone Larry was 500 t0 600 kilometres off the North Queensland coast, and was topping towards a Category Three. The speed with which the cyclone increased in strength and then moved towards the coast has stunned meteorologists.

Highly unusual behaviour from what was believed to be a powerful, but not particularly dangerous cyclone on Saturday afternoon.

However, the US Navy regarded it as dangerous enough to remove three warships from the Townsville area where they were supposed to have docked for the weekend on Saturday.