Australia Prepares for Rare Cyclone Alfred: Warnings, Evacuations, and Disruptions

In a first for the east coast of Australia for over 50 years, millions of people are preparing for Cyclone Alfred. Residents in flood-prone areas are being urged to evacuate while they can before the worst hits. Cyclone Alfred’s Coast Approach Storm warnings stretch over 500 km along the coasts of Queensland and New South Wales. Cyclone Alfred is the Category 2 cyclone with expected winds of up to 155 km/h and very heavy rain. It is expected to make landfall near Brisbane early Friday morning. Brisbane is Queensland’s capital and Australia’s third-largest city, with a population of 2.5 million. The Bureau of Meteorology says some areas might get 800 mm, which is more than normal for March. Last-minute checks are going on. Premiers David Crisafulli of Queensland said it was “very uncommon”, meaning take precautions now before it is just too late.

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Public Transport and Event Cancellations

Public transport has ground to a halt, with the last trains, buses, and ferries running in Brisbane on Wednesday. Sporting events and public gatherings in Queensland and New South Wales have also been canceled at present. Cyclone Alfred is about 325km east of Brisbane and is moving toward the coast at 16km/h. But it is expected to slow down to 11km/h, which could aggravate the impact by prolonging heavy rainfall and strong winds. Airports across southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales will close as Cyclone Alfred approaches, with airlines canceling flights; travelers are advised to check flight status with their airlines.

Huge Waves and Coastal Dangers

Flood warnings are active in the Northern Rivers of New South Wales, with major flooding anticipated along the Bellinger River at Thora and Bellingen commencing Friday, significantly raising water levels. Minor flood warnings also apply for Repton and the Kalang River at Urunga. Cyclone Alfred is generating massive swell with wave heights of 8-10 m in close proximity to the storm centre. Dangerous storm surges, beach erosion, and life-threatening surf conditions are likely as the cyclone approaches. Stay out of the ocean, it’s dangerous due to heavy waves, strong rips, and flooding.

Mapping Cyclone Alfred: When and where will this Category 2 storm make landfall?

Alfred is presently located around 600 km east of the Queensland-New South Wales border after taking a sudden turn westward after several days of southeast movement.