The summer of 2011 was already going to go down in Queensland's history for all the wrong reasons.

A stormchaser has told how he tied himself to a tree, strapped on a helmet and went into the core of Cyclone Yasi.

Only a freakish combination of weather conditions could see a storm with the force of Cyclone Yasi reach New Zealand.

Cyclone Yasi, despite causing massive damage, did not leave anyone dead or seriously injured.

Personal stories of how Kiwis hunkered down as Cyclone Yasi surged through north Queensland.

The Queensland town of Tully is emerging as one of the worst-hit with estimates that half the homes are damaged.

Shoppers may be forced to fork out up to $13 a kilo for bananas as 90 per cent of Australia's crop may have been wiped out.

Evacuation centres in Cairns and Townsville will remain in lockdown due to a second, dangerous storm surge in the wake of Cyclone Yasi, Queensland Premier Anna Bligh says.

Former Tall Black Phill Jones converted his master bedroom's walk-in wardrobe into a virtual bunker to protect his family against Cyclone Yasi.

Former Auckland police officer Sandy Beckett said he would rather take on a crocodile than sit through Cyclone Yasi.

'The most serious cyclone you can have' is how Queensland Premier Anna Bligh is describing the storm set to ravage the state tonight. The storm has been upgraded to a Category Five cyclone - the most severe level imaginable.

Evacuations are underway as severe tropical cyclone Yasi continues its charge towards the north Queensland coast.

Severe thunderstorms have hampered the reconnection of power to flood-weary southeast Queenslanders.

Queensland police say a teenager photographed as she was swept to what appeared to be certain death in Toowoomba has survived.

About 150 mourners gathered to farewell Donna and Jordan Rice - the teen who sacrificed himself to save his brother.

As floodwaters continue to isolate large areas of Queensland and Victoria, the ground is being laid for recriminations and blame.