Cyclone Alfred: 30k homes powerless, landfall approaches

Tropical Cyclone Alfred leaves 30,000 homes without power, expected to make landfall late Friday or Saturday, bringing heavy rain and wind.

In Short

Tropical Cyclone Alfred is impacting Queensland and New South Wales, affecting around 30,000 homes and delaying landfall, which is expected between Brisbane and Maroochydore. Residents should prepare for strong winds, heavy rain, and possible flash flooding, particularly in major areas like Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred is currently impacting areas in Queensland and New South Wales.

Approximately 30,000 homes are without power ahead of the cyclone’s anticipated landfall. The worst affected regions include the Gold Coast and the Tweed and Byron shires.

As of 2am on Friday, the storm was located 205km east of Brisbane. Alfred has been classified as a category 2 cyclone and has slowed its progression.

It is expected to make landfall between Brisbane and Maroochydore late Friday or early Saturday. While this delay allows for evacuation efforts, it also raises concerns about prolonged rainfall, potentially totaling nearly a metre in some locations.

The Bureau of Meteorology forecasts that Alfred will maintain category 2 status until it reaches Brisbane’s offshore islands, then downgrade to category 1 as it moves inland. Residents should prepare for wind gusts of up to 155km/h, heavy rain, and the possibility of flash flooding.