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

Cyclone Yasi is building as a storm of unprecedented ferocity - the likes of which hasn't been seen since 1918 - and already it is lashing the Queensland coast.

'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.

Thousands of people are fleeing their homes and hospitals are being emptied as severe tropical cyclone Yasi bears down on the north Queensland coast.

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

Wilma has now well and truly gone, absorbed into the roaring 40s to bring more gales and rain to the South Ocean.

New Zealand-born singer Jon Stevens says he's outraged about being ejected from a Jetstar flight to Brisbane, where he was to play at a Queensland flood relief concert, and denies any bad behaviour.

Another weekend and meh, another cyclone.

Western Force captain Nathan Sharpe will miss approximately four to six weeks of pre-season training after undergoing laparoscopic surgery to repair a hernia.

A Kiwi couple caught up in the Queensland floods say they are disgusted at being denied Govt assistance because they are from NZ.