Tropical Cyclone Alfred continues to churn offshore, hammering the Queensland coast with powerful winds and hazardous surf. The system remains over the Coral Sea, triggering severe weather warnings and concerns about potential coastal flooding.
Queensland authorities are urging residents to prepare for strong winds, dangerous tides, and rough seas over the coming days. While Cyclone Alfred has weakened from a category four to a category three system, it remains a serious threat to coastal communities.
Severe Tropical #CycloneAlfred (category 3) continues to move through the Coral Sea. Regardless of the track Alfred takes, severe coastal hazards are likely for southern #Qld and north-east #NSW. More: https://t.co/U2GI3Bf8dT pic.twitter.com/PNugevsKDw
— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) March 1, 2025
Cyclone Alfred’s Current Status
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) confirmed that Cyclone Alfred was downgraded to a category three system early Saturday morning. However, forecasters warn that wild weather and dangerous surf conditions will persist throughout the weekend.
Also Read: Cyclone Alfred Could Reach Category 3, before Entering Qld
As of 10 AM Saturday, Alfred was positioned 560 km east-northeast of Rockhampton and 495 km northeast of Bundaberg. Sustained winds at the centre of the system reached 155 km/h, with gusts of 220 km/h over open waters. A severe weather warning remains in effect from Mackay to the New South Wales border.
Senior meteorologist Jonathan How explained that Alfred will continue moving south to south-west as a severe category three system. By Sunday, it will shift towards the south-east, weakening into a category two system before moving further offshore by night.
Severe Tropical #CycloneAlfred (category 3) is sitting 600km east-north-east of Rockhampton, likely to move south-west towards Qld today. Coastal Hazard Warnings & Severe Weather Warnings for Damaging Winds are in place for #Qld & #NSW. More: https://t.co/TH6oLaVUjz pic.twitter.com/CAC8PbusiA
— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) March 1, 2025
Coastal Communities on High Alert
Authorities have issued coastal hazard warnings due to rising tides and massive waves from Seventeen Seventy to Coolangatta.
The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service has urged visitors to stay away from K’gari (Fraser Island) due to worsening weather conditions, and Great Keppel Island was evacuated on Thursday as a safety precaution. Several beaches along the coastline are also likely to close over the weekend.
Mr How stated that Cyclone Alfred is expected to move further southeast on Monday and Tuesday. By that time, it should be well offshore, east of K’gari and the Sunshine Coast.
Today’s Forecast:
Here’s today’s forecast around Australia.
For the latest forecasts and warnings, visit our website https://t.co/4W35o8i7wJ or the BOM Weather app. pic.twitter.com/kFJf57YlXX
— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) February 28, 2025
Strong Winds and High Tides Raise Concerns
The slow-moving nature of Cyclone Alfred has raised concerns about prolonged impacts along the Queensland coast.
A large high-pressure system over the Tasman Sea is preventing the cyclone from moving quickly south. Instead, Alfred is wobbling back and forth, with a small chance it could shift back towards Queensland next week.
Jonathan How explained, “The high-pressure system comes in and goes ‘no, you’re staying there’ so it wobbles back.” There is still uncertainty about whether Alfred could drift back towards the coast later next week.
National Weather Forecast: Warm and mostly dry weekend; hazardous surf for south-east Qld
Video current: 1:30pm AEDT 28 February 2025.
Latest forecasts and warnings: https://t.co/4W35o8iFmh or the BOM Weather app. pic.twitter.com/7tR0dqBsxf
— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) February 28, 2025
Authorities Warn Against Risky Activities
With dangerous surf, high winds, and unpredictable weather, authorities are urging people to avoid swimming, boating, and surfing.
Bundaberg police acting inspector Danny Hess emphasised the risks: “We want people to stay off the water—no surfing, no swimming, no boating. We don’t want any incidents.”
Volunteer Marine Rescue Queensland president Graham Kingston reinforced the message, saying that boaters should avoid heading offshore due to unpredictable conditions. Even on rivers, king tides and strong winds could make anchoring difficult and dangerous.
Sandbagging Efforts Underway
In preparation for potential flooding, emergency crews and SES volunteers have set up sandbagging centres across Queensland.
Gold Coast acting mayor Donna Gates warned that the city is closely monitoring beach erosion and local flooding risks. High tides and rough seas could lead to flooding in low-lying coastal areas, especially near rivers, estuaries, and beachfront properties.
Authorities remain particularly concerned about erosion at Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach, and Coolangatta, where high tides and waves could worsen conditions. Residents are encouraged to take precautions and collect sandbags if necessary.
Impact on Local Communities
Residents in affected regions are changing their weekend plans as conditions worsen.
At Bargara, near Bundaberg, strong winds and relentless waves have forced many people to stay away from the beach. Local resident Rick Manuel, who usually enjoys a morning swim, decided against it today.
“Not today,” he said. “I reckon [the surf] could push a great white [shark] over those rocks today.”
Beachfront businesses are also feeling the effects, with some tourism operators experiencing cancellations due to the cyclone warnings.
What’s Next for Cyclone Alfred?
The Cyclone Alfred forecast suggests that the system will continue weakening over the weekend. However, it remains a significant coastal hazard.
By Sunday, Alfred will shift south-east, weakening to a category two system. By Monday, it will likely be far offshore, reducing the risk of direct landfall. However, mid-next week presents some uncertainty, as weather patterns could influence whether Alfred drifts back towards the Queensland coast.
BoM meteorologists are closely monitoring the system’s movements and will issue further updates if needed.
Final Warning: Stay Safe and Stay Informed
Authorities are urging residents to stay informed and monitor official weather updates.
Queensland Police, SES, and local councils have stressed the importance of avoiding unnecessary risks, particularly near the water. If you live in a flood-prone area, be prepared with sandbags and emergency supplies.
With Cyclone Alfred still swirling offshore, Queenslanders must remain cautious and prioritise safety over recreation.
