Cyclone Alfred Live Tracker LIVE Updates: A worker repairs power lines damaged due to a fallen tree following heavy rainfall before the landfall of Cyclone Alfred, at Chinderah, in Northern New South Wales, Australia. (Photo: AP)
Tropical Cyclone Alfred in Australia: Tropical Cyclone Alfred lashed parts of eastern Australia on Thursday, with early winds and rain leading to schools being closed, public transport halted, and residents looking for alternatives to sandbags by buying potting mix to reduce the impact of flooding. Cyclone Alfred is expected to make landfall early Saturday along the Queensland coast, somewhere between the Sunshine Coast region and the city of Gold Coast. Alfred is expected to become the first cyclone to cross the coast near Brisbane since Cyclone Zoe hit Gold Coast in 1974 and brought widespread flooding.
How are the authorities preparing? Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that 660 schools in southern Queensland and 280 schools in northern New South Wales were closed on Thursday as weather conditions worsened due to Cyclone Alfred. The federal government had delivered 310,000 sandbags to Brisbane, with more on the way. Public transport was suspended across the affected areas, and hospitals were limited to only emergency surgeries until the danger subsided. Strong winds caused power outages for 4,500 homes and businesses in northern New South Wales.
What is the winds and flooding forecast? Cyclone Alfred was located 280 kilometers (170 miles) east of Brisbane, moving west with sustained winds of 95 kph (59 mph) and gusts reaching 130 kph (81 mph), news agency AP reported, quoting Bureau of Meteorology manager Matt Collopy. The cyclone is expected to maintain its wind strength until it makes landfall. However, the primary concern is the widespread flooding. Models predict that up to 20,000 homes in Brisbane, a city largely situated on a river floodplain, could be affected by varying levels of flooding.
Summary
The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) has handled over 6,300 calls and responded to more than 3,400 incidents across the Northern Rivers and Mid North Coast due to Cyclone Alfred. Evacuation orders have been issued, with more possible. Residents are advised to check official warnings and follow emergency service instructions. The SES urges people to check on neighbors to ensure they have received critical emergency messages.
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