Cyclone Alfred: When and Where Will It Make Landfall in Australia?

Tropical Cyclone Alfred, a Category 2 storm, is barreling toward Australia’s eastern coast, poised to make landfall near Brisbane late Friday or early Saturday. This marks the first time in over five decades that a cyclone is directly impacting the city of 2.5 million residents, raising concerns over severe flooding and widespread damage.

The storm originated in the Coral Sea but took an unexpected U-turn, intensifying as it moved towards the mainland. Typically, cyclones develop in Australia’s tropical northern regions, making Alfred’s path towards the cooler southeastern coast an anomaly. The last cyclone to impact Brisbane was Cyclone Zoe in 1974, which triggered devastating floods.

“This is an unusual occurrence to have a tropical cyclone in a region that is not defined as part of the tropics, here in southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated in Brisbane.

Expected Landfall and Current Position of Cyclone Alfred

As reported by Queensland’s Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), Alfred is predicted to make landfall between Friday evening and Saturday morning. At 08:54 GMT on Thursday, the cyclone was located about 225km (140 miles) east of Brisbane and 210km (130 miles) east-northeast of the Gold Coast, traveling at a slow speed of 7km/h (4 mph).

Alfred’s sluggish advance has been slow to make landfall, allowing it more time to gain strength over the balmy waters along Queensland’s coastline. Weather forecasters caution that the favorable conditions such as low vertical wind shear may enable Alfred to continue to intensify before making landfall.

Major Impacts: Wind, Rain, and Flooding

Alfred will deliver damaging winds, torrential rains, and hazardous storm surges along the highly populated southeastern Queensland coast.

Wind Speeds: The cyclone now has winds of 89 to 117km/h (55 to 73mph), with gusts of up to 155km/h (96mph). The winds are powerful enough to destroy buildings, knock down trees, and knock out power in the area.

Heavy Rainfall: Parts of the area may get as much as 800mm (31.5 inches) of rain—more than the region’s average March rainfall. The floodwaters increase the risk of extensive flooding, especially in low-lying coastal areas.

Storm Surge: Coastal residents are already seeing huge waves, and the storm surge is likely to worsen flooding, which could affect thousands of homes.

The worst weather is expected from Thursday night through Saturday morning, with heavy rain and strong winds continuing into next week.

Alfred will affect 300km (190 miles) of coastline between Maroochydore in the Sunshine Coast region and Byron Bay in the New South Wales coast.

Key areas to be impacted include:

Brisbane: The capital city’s 2.5 million population will face threats from flooding, and officials have put estimates at 20,000 homes potentially to be hit.

Gold Coast: The holiday town of more than 700,000 residents can expect massive storm surges as well as damaged infrastructure.

Northern New South Wales: Parts of the border region can expect heavy rain, flooding, and power cuts.

The effects of Alfred will be felt for a few days, even when the storm crosses into the land. Floodwaters will keep swelling, and it might take weeks for damage to be assessed.

Preparations for Impact by Authorities

As the cyclone gets closer, authorities are making elaborate precautionary arrangements:

Schools and hospitals in the affected areas are closing temporarily. Meanwhile, flights are being canceled at airports, and public transport is also being shut down. In addition, emergency services are on high alert, urging residents to prepare with essential supplies and brace for potential evacuations.

Brisbane residents have been warned by Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner to prepare for potential disruptions. “We are asking residents to prepare for flooding and get to a safe place,” he said.

What’s Next?

As Cyclone Alfred approaches, people in southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales should stay updated, carefully heed official warnings, and proactively exercise necessary precautions. Meanwhile, officials will continue to closely monitor the storm’s intensity and promptly issue updates as the situation unfolds.

As the first cyclone to strike Brisbane in over 50 years, Alfred serves as a grim yet powerful reminder of the unpredictability of nature. Therefore, it is crucial to stay safe and remain fully prepared as Australia braces for this unusual and intense storm.