Tropical Cyclone Alfred is slowly making its way toward southeast Queensland and northern NSW, bringing the risk of heavy rain, flash flooding, and strong winds. Authorities are urging residents to stay alert and take necessary precautions as the storm intensifies.
Alfred, currently a category 2 storm, is hovering ominously just 185 kilometres off the Gold Coast. The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has been closely monitoring its trajectory, which is expected to slow down as it nears the coast, potentially stalling before making landfall either late Friday night or early Saturday morning. Despite the anticipated decrease in intensity to a category 1 as it approaches the Moreton Bay islands and moves closer to the mainland, the threat posed by Alfred remains severe.
The BOM has issued a stark warning about the risks associated with the cyclone, particularly concerning widespread heavy rainfall that could lead to flash flooding and wild winds. The coastal regions and adjacent inland areas are expected to bear the brunt of these conditions throughout the weekend. Major riverine flooding is a significant concern, especially for communities like Lismore in NSW, which is still recovering from the devastating floods of 2022.
Damaging winds with speeds reaching up to 120 kilometres per hour have been reported near the coast between Cape Moreton and Cape Byron. These conditions are forecasted to spread across other coastal and island communities between Noosa and Ballina on Friday, potentially extending as far south as Grafton and as far north as Double Island Point by Friday evening and into early Saturday. Destructive wind gusts of up to 155 kilometres per hour are also expected near coastal and island locations close to and south of Alfred’s centre as it approaches the coast on Friday afternoon.
Residents should also be wary of abnormally high tides, which are likely to cause minor flooding in coastal low-lying areas between Double Island Point and Grafton, particularly during the high tide on Friday night and into early Saturday. The past few days have already seen waves up to 15 metres along the southeast Queensland coast, a testament to the cyclone’s power.
The impact on infrastructure is already being felt, with up to 30,000 homes without power in the cyclone zone. The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) has been inundated with calls, receiving over 6,300 requests for assistance and responding to more than 3,400 incidents, including three flood rescues. Evacuation orders have been issued in vulnerable communities on the Mid-North Coast and Northern Rivers, underscoring the seriousness of the situation.
How are you preparing for the potential impacts of Cyclone Alfred? Have you faced similar storms in the past, and what advice would you share with others? Let us know in the comments below—we’d love to hear from you and create a space for shared support and preparedness!
Also read: How to prepare for a cyclone, according to an expert
