Cyclone Yasi started developing on the 29^th January as a tropical low northwest and started following on a general westward track. By 10pm on the 30^th January cyclone Yasi got its name from the Fiji Meteorological Service after strengthening to a cyclone category towards the North of Vanuatu. Yasi maintained a westward track and intensified to a Category 2 by 10am on 31^st of January and then to a Category 3 by 4pm on that day. 

On the 1^st February Yasi increased to a category 4 at 7pm and started to head west-southwestward toward the Queensland coast. 

Cyclone Yasi increased to a marginal category 5 at 4am on 2^nd February. On the 3^rd of February between 12-1am Yasi continued at its intensity and caused landfall on the southern tropical coast. This meant that there were damaging winds and rain because of the cyclones strong core. 

See synoptic maps to the right:

 

 

Secondly, The Commonwealth responded by offering financial support of $650,000 in concessional loans for cyclone hit famers.