Australia prepares for Cyclone Glenda

Residents and tourists on the north-west and north-east coasts of Australia are preparing for the full impact of Cyclone Glenda.

Severe weather has already begun to pass over the area, with winds of up to 80 miles per hour battering the shores and people are being urged to take precautions and be ready for the cyclone.

The region of Pilbara is right on course to feel the full brunt of the storm, reports BBC News, with the area on red alert. Many residents have evacuated their homes, while others have fled to rescue centres.

"Tides are likely to rise significantly above the normal high tide mark with very dangerous flooding and damaging waves," confirmed Grahame Reader, from the Bureau of Meteorology.

Cyclone Glenda follows in the wake of Cyclone Larry, which hit the north-east two weeks ago and left millions of pounds worth of structural damage to the area. There are concerns that Glenda will be even stronger than Larry and perhaps cause damage on the scale of the US hurricane season.