Lizard Island battered by strong winds
JANUARY 24, 12.30pm: They are hardy folk on the isolated tourist site of Lizard Island north-east of Cooktown.
Even before Cyclone Olga developed on Saturday, the island had been battered by the winds of ex-cyclone Neville.
Anne Hoggett from the Lizard Island Research Station said some tourists had cut short their holidays, while the small number of residents were preparing to see-out the storm.
"It is very windy now, about 38knots. In the last week we've had the worst weather we`ve had for about a year," she said about 12.15pm.
"We've had a number of people leave the island as they saw no benefit in hanging around during a cyclone.
Mrs Hoggett said big waves, pushed by westerly winds, had eroded some of the island beaches.
"It's nothing that unusual for us out here, but we've just got to batten down and see it out," she said.
She said all 13 small boats on the island had been brought onshore to keep them out of harm's way.
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Olga off-shore: Lizard Island, off Cooktown, has already been affected by strong winds.
Cyclone Olga expected to cross coast at 2pm
JANUARY 24, 12.30pm: Cyclone Olga is expected to hit the coast near Cape Tribulation about 2pm.
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JANUARY 24, 11am: Cyclone Olga is expected to remain a category two cyclone as it crosses the coast between Port Douglas and Cooktown between 3pm and 4pm.
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Hospitals prepared for Cyclone Olga
JANUARY 24, 9.30am: Cooktown Hospital has activated its emergency plan.
Cyclone Olga hovers off Cooktown coast
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