[2] The system had a well-defined eye and continued to track west-southwestward, maintaining a central pressure of 930 hPa (27 inHg) and a Dvorak intensity of T6.5 into the evening.

[3][4] At about 12:00 AM AEST (14:00 UTC) on 3 February, Yasi crossed the Australian coastline as a Category 5 severe tropical cyclone near Mission Beach,[5] with estimated maximum 3-second gusts of 285 km/h spanning an area from Ingham to Cairns.

[5] Due to the size of the system and its strong core, Yasi maintained cyclonic intensity farther inland than normal, finally dissipating into a tropical low near Mount Isa, at 10 PM on 3 February 2011, 22 hours after the storm first crossed the coast.

Over a region of high sea surface temperatures and low to moderate wind shear, it was expected to intensify gradually as it moved southwest.

[12] Considerable development took place on the following day, prompting the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) to issue a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert.

The storm's low-level circulation centre became increasingly defined and convective banding features were apparent along the northern periphery of the depression.

[15] Along the north edge of a strong subtropical ridge, the storm tracked generally westward, taking it through the northern islands of the country.

[16] Continuing to rapidly intensify, Yasi attained severe tropical cyclone intensity with ten-minute sustained winds of at least 120 km/h (75 mph) on 31 January, as the primary convective band wrapped around the storm's centre.

[18] Shortly after entering the BoM's area of responsibility, the storm initiated a period of rapid intensification under extremely favorable conditions as it turned southwestward, with a shallow eye developing by 31 January.

[19] Later that day, Yasi reached its peak intensity with 10-minute sustained winds of 125 mph (200 kilometres per hour) and a pressure of 929 hPa (27.43 inches of mercury).

[19] Traveling southwestwards, Yasi remained a powerful storm until its landfall near Mission Beach, Queensland, at 14:00 UTC on February 2.

[21][22] These strong winds delayed shipping schedules and affected students studying in Vaitupu and Fiji, and outer islands ran out of fresh supplies as a result of rough seas.

[24] Vanuatuan officials reported difficulties making contact with the Torba Province, but it was believed that the northern area escaped major damage.

[25] The storm was several hundred kilometres southeast of Papua New Guinea, but the outer edges of the large system brought strong winds, high seas and heavy rain to the country.

[27][28] Yasi subsequently passed directly over the weather station during 2 February, where wind gusts of 185 km/h (115 mph) and a minimum pressure of 937.9 hPa (27.70 inHg) were recorded, before the meteorological equipment and communications failed.

Most of the automated surface observing systems and communications were subsequently restored and became operational, fifteen days after Yasi had passed over the island.

However, the radar and life-supporting systems took a bit longer to restore and were subsequently completed by the end of November, before staff returned to the island during December 2011.

[33][35] In Mission Beach near where Cyclone Yasi made landfall, wind gusts were estimated to have reached 290 km/h (180 mph), leaving behind much damage.

[38] As the eye of the storm moved over several towns in Queensland, news reporters took the opportunity to give brief damage assessments before the eyewall returned.

[45] Around 10:30 pm local time on 2 February, Premier Bligh stated that an estimated 90,000 structures, including evacuation centres, were without power.

[55] On 6 February, the BOM reported that Ex-Tropical Cyclone Yasi was 85 km (53 mi) north of Yulara[56] and that heavy rains continued in the Alice Springs area.