The rare tropical cyclone moves towards the eastern coast of Australia, which potentially brings destructive winds and dangerous storms.
Tropical Cyclone Alfred It is expected to follow near Brisbane, the third largest city in Australia, late on Friday or early Saturday.
This is the first cyclone to hit a city of 2.5 million people over 50 years, causing concern about strong floods and damage in a region that is not used to the direct impact of cyclone.
Here’s what we know so far about Alfred and its potential influence:
What is Cyclone Alfred?
Alfred is a tropical cyclone in category 2, which deals with the densely populated southeast coast of Queensland.
Originally from the Coral Sea east of Australia, the storm made an unexpected turning in the Pacific and now moving straight for the mainland, bringing destructive winds, heavy rain and life of a dangerous storm.
This time he could potentially hit a densely populated Areas unusual to direct hits with cyclones.
Cyclones usually forms In Tropical North Australia, but Alfred hits the cooler center of the eastern coast – a rare event. The last cyclone that influenced Brisbane was Cyclone Zoe in 1974, which caused strong floods.
“This is a rare event that has a tropical cyclone in an area not classified as part of the tropics, here in southeastern Queensland and northern new southern Wales,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters in Brisbane.
When and where is Alfred expected to make land?
It is predicted that the cyclone will hit the ground On Friday night or Saturday morningaccording to the Queensland Office of Meteorology.
From 08:54 GMT on Thursday, Alfred was located 225 KM (140 miles) east of Brisbane and 210 km (130 miles) of the east-northeast of the Golden Coast, moving at a slow 7-kilometer hour (4 miles per hour), according to the Meteorology Office.
Experts said the arrival of Alfred was delayed because the slow motion system stopped on the warm waters near the Queensland coast. This allows the storm more time to step up, extracting energy from the ocean waters and low vertical wind scissors – factors that could strengthen it further before it reaches the coast.
Expected influence
Alfred is expected to hit the coast between Brisbane and Gold Coast, which is in the south and home more than 3 million people.
Published 16:46 Aest
🌀 Trophic #Cyclonealfred (Cat 2) is 225 km east of #Brisbane.
Alfred is a Category 2 cyclone and it is envisaged that it will maintain this intensity as it is approaching the coast today and tomorrow. Influences are expected to increase tonight. https://t.co/abjo0qir5x pic.twitter.com/zog046ouse6
– Meteorology Bureau, Queensland (@BU_QLD) 6. March 2025
How long will Alfred last?
The forecasts said that the impact of Alfred would last for several days, and the flood waters are expected to rise after the cyclone is moving into the interior.
The worst time is expected from Thursday to Saturday morning, but strong winds and heavy rain could be persisted in the next week.
Which category is Alfred and what could you do?
Alfred is currently classified as a category 2 storm, which means that it has strong winds from 89 to 117 km/h (55 to 73mph) that are capable of damaging homes, mining of trees and causing electricity disappearances. There are also strong rain and dangerous storm slopes.
Authorities use the Saffir-Sumpson Hurricane Wind scale to classify storms. The scale divides hurricane into five categories of power based on their permanent wind speeds. The highest category 5, which causes “catastrophic damage”.
The Australian Office of Meteorology said that total rain from the cyclone in some regions could be as much as 800 mm (31.5 inches) – more than the average total number for March.
In addition, winds up to 155 km/h (96mph) are expected and can cause buildings, to overthrow trees and disrupt electric service.
The Queensland coast has already experienced strong waves in recent days, and the storm can be worse, overwhelming thousands of homes in low areas.
While the region attaches the storm, schools, hospitals, airports and public transportation.
Which areas of Alfred will affect?
The cyclone will affect a section of 300 KM (190 miles) from the coast from Marochydore on the Sun Coast to the Byron Bay in the new southern Wales.
Some of the worst affected areas include Brisbane, Gold Coast and Northern New South Wales.
Executive CEO of Brisbane, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner, said that up to 20,000 homes could experience a certain level of flood.
How to prepare my home for a cyclone?
Local authorities have proposed several precautions and measures, which include:
- Window and door protection: Install shutters or on the panels on windows and doors to protect yourself from debris and strong winds.
- Storage based on basic things: Buy enough water, food, batteries, medicines and emergency supplies for at least three days. Supermarket shelves are already agreeing with basic things.
- Emergency preparation: Turn on torches, batteries radio, first aid supplies and important documents in the waterproof bag.
- Evacuation planning: Identify safe routes to the nearest evacuation centers and listen to official warnings.
- Avoid the coast: The waves five meters (16ft) already collapses to the beaches.
Numerous things you can do now to ensure you stay safe during a tropical #Cyclonealfred.
Keep in mind that the influences of the weather are expected to occur in a longer period than just crossing.
Follow the emergency tips.
Follow updates of the weather on, https://t.co/nrtdu01p1q https://t.co/xazfqt9dir– Meteorology Bureau, Queensland (@BU_QLD) March 5, 2025
Will public transport services?
Yes, public transport services in southeast Queensland will be significantly disturbed. All bus and trains services were suspended from the last service on Wednesday until further notice.
Citycat ferry ferries also stopped running due to dangerous conditions on the Brisbane River.
What are other closes and disorders?
More than 700 schools in Queensland and northern New South Wales have been closed since Thursday.
In addition, Major Airlines Qantas and Virgin have already canceled flights and the Gold Coast Airport has been off from Wednesday afternoon.
What actions do the authorities take?
Albanese said that his government provided 250,000 sand residents in areas under floods in Brisbane and Gold Coast. They can act as obstacles to redirection of water from buildings and reducing flood damage.
The army also delivered 80,000 additional sandbags to areas with a high risk of flood.
The exhibition of Brisbane will serve as a cyclone refuge for those without a safe shelter.
Evacuation centers are also set up throughout Queensland to ensure long -term accommodation for residents whose homes become unquestionable due to flooding or damage from the storm.
