Tropical Cyclone Alfred is intensifying as it moves towards the Queensland coast, with warnings in place for Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast, and northern New South Wales. The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has confirmed that Cyclone Alfred has strengthened to a category 2 cyclone, bringing dangerous weather conditions.
Authorities have urged residents to prepare for a cyclone as heavy rain, strong winds, and flooding become increasingly likely.
Figure 1: Forecast Track Map for Tropical Cyclone Alfred [BOM]
Cyclone Alfred Tracking and Expected Landfall
Cyclone tracking indicates that the system is currently moving southeast but will slow down and turn westward on Tuesday. The BOM update suggests landfall between Buddina and Warana on Thursday or Friday.
According to the latest cyclone radar, Alfred is about 465km northeast of Brisbane and 430km northeast of Maroochydore. Queensland cyclone warnings are in place for multiple regions, with Gold Coast cyclone alerts also active.
Figure 2: Cyclone Alfred’s Current Position
BOM Weather Forecast for Brisbane and Sunshine Coast
The BOM weather forecast for Brisbane and surrounding regions warns of severe conditions from Wednesday onwards. The cyclone warning Brisbane highlights:
- Winds of up to 125 km/h in the Northern Rivers region
- Rainfall between 100-300mm, leading to potential flooding
- Wave heights between 2-9 metres, causing severe coastal erosion
- Cyclone warning for Gold Coast, with dangerous storm surges expected
Residents of Bundaberg, Bribie Island, and the Sunshine Coast are also on alert, with some areas already experiencing storm conditions.
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Authorities Urge Preparation for Cyclone Alfred
Superintendent Scott McLennan from the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) has advised residents to secure loose items, check their medication supply, and avoid unnecessary travel from Wednesday onwards.
BOM hazard preparedness manager Steven Bernasconi warned, “For New South Wales, we’ll be seeing a tropical cyclone watch issued sometime today… we will be within 24 to 48 hours of experiencing gale-force winds.”
Authorities recommend that residents in flood-prone areas sandbag their homes and stay informed via the BOM cyclone tracker and the “Hazards Near Me” app.
Cyclone Alfred’s Path and Potential Impact
The Cyclone path indicates a high likelihood of direct landfall along Queensland’s southern coastline. The last cyclone to hit Brisbane with similar intensity was Cyclone Nancy in 1990.
While the cyclone is currently a category 2 system, further strengthening is possible. The BOM cyclone categories classify Category 3 and above as severe, increasing risks of property damage and power outages.
Coastal Towns Brace for Destruction
Five coastal councils are under Queensland cyclone watch, including Bundaberg, Fraser Coast, Gympie, Noosa, and Sunshine Coast. Authorities have identified Golden Beach, Pelican Waters, Diamond Head, and Maroochydore as areas of concern.
South East Queensland usually avoids direct cyclone landfall, but Cyclone Alfred Brisbane warnings indicate an exceptionally rare event.
Cyclone Alfred Brisbane and Gold Coast Impact Timeline
- Monday-Tuesday: Cyclone Alfred moves southeast but begins slowing.
- Tuesday-Wednesday: The cyclone turns westward, increasing confidence in landfall predictions.
- Wednesday-Thursday: Rain and wind intensify, with potential for localised flooding.
- Thursday-Friday: Cyclone Alfred makes landfall, bringing widespread damage and power outages.
What to Expect Post-Landfall
The tropical cyclone Alfred forecast suggests that once Alfred moves inland, it will weaken below cyclone strength but still cause heavy rain and flooding across Queensland and northern NSW.
Residents should stay updated via the cyclone warning Brisbane alerts, the BOM cyclone radar, and weather Brisbane updates. The Queensland cyclone update will provide further details as landfall nears.
Final Warnings from Authorities
Emergency services have urged residents to be prepared for extreme weather. NSW Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib stated, “We need you as a community to do your bit, to be prepared, to know the circumstances, to know your individual area and what challenges there are.”
Residents across Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, and Northern Rivers must take the Cyclone Alfred warning seriously. Stay indoors, avoid unnecessary travel, and monitor updates via BOM cyclone updates and Brisbane news sources like brisbanetimes.com.au and sunrise.com.au.
Where is Cyclone Alfred Now?
For the latest cyclone Alfred tracker, visit the Bureau of Meteorology website, check Weatherzone, or follow Brisbane Times for live cyclone updates.
