At least 15,000 individuals were issued evacuation orders as Tropical Cyclone Alfred draws closer to land, threatening the eastern coastline of Australia with severe weather conditions. The cyclone, which is poised to make landfall near Brisbane—home to around 2.7 million residents—is expected to result in substantial flooding and damaging winds.
As of Friday afternoon, Cyclone Alfred was about 80 miles offshore, already influencing the area by raising tides and initiating flood rescues. In New South Wales, local authorities notified that around 29,000 properties may face flooding, with approximately 15,000 residents also under evacuation orders. Power outages affected about 38,000 residents in New South Wales, with an additional 46,000 in Queensland cut off.
The slow movement of the cyclone at just 5 miles per hour could heighten the storm's impact, lengthening the duration of rainfall and storm surges over affected communities. Among those at risk is Lismore, a city severely impacted by disastrous floods in 2022 that claimed 22 lives.
Cyclone Alfred is generating hazardous wind gusts reaching up to 75 miles per hour, leading forecasters to issue warnings for potential life-threatening flash flooding even prior to making landfall. Notably, this cyclone marks the first major storm to hit southeastern Queensland since 1974, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
Hundreds of schools and multiple airports in southern Queensland and northern New South Wales have been closed, and public transport services have been suspended. Grocery stores saw a surge in purchases, leading to empty shelves, as residents prepared for the approaching cyclone. Despite the warnings, some surfers flocked to the coast to take advantage of the powerful waves stirred up by the storm.
In anticipation of recovery efforts, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced his commitment to allocate emergency federal funds to the affected regions in Queensland and New South Wales post-storm. As the situation develops, authorities and emergency services continue to monitor the evolving path of Cyclone Alfred.
As of Friday afternoon, Cyclone Alfred was about 80 miles offshore, already influencing the area by raising tides and initiating flood rescues. In New South Wales, local authorities notified that around 29,000 properties may face flooding, with approximately 15,000 residents also under evacuation orders. Power outages affected about 38,000 residents in New South Wales, with an additional 46,000 in Queensland cut off.
The slow movement of the cyclone at just 5 miles per hour could heighten the storm's impact, lengthening the duration of rainfall and storm surges over affected communities. Among those at risk is Lismore, a city severely impacted by disastrous floods in 2022 that claimed 22 lives.
Cyclone Alfred is generating hazardous wind gusts reaching up to 75 miles per hour, leading forecasters to issue warnings for potential life-threatening flash flooding even prior to making landfall. Notably, this cyclone marks the first major storm to hit southeastern Queensland since 1974, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
Hundreds of schools and multiple airports in southern Queensland and northern New South Wales have been closed, and public transport services have been suspended. Grocery stores saw a surge in purchases, leading to empty shelves, as residents prepared for the approaching cyclone. Despite the warnings, some surfers flocked to the coast to take advantage of the powerful waves stirred up by the storm.
In anticipation of recovery efforts, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced his commitment to allocate emergency federal funds to the affected regions in Queensland and New South Wales post-storm. As the situation develops, authorities and emergency services continue to monitor the evolving path of Cyclone Alfred.
