Cyclone Alfred: Forecasted Impact and Preparations for Brisbane, Australia

Tropical Cyclone Alfred is forecast to impact Brisbane, Australia as a Category 2 storm on Friday or Saturday, bringing destructive winds, heavy rains, and storm surges. This event is rare for the area, with significant risks of flooding and damage. Residents are advised to prepare and authorities have instituted evacuations and closures to ensure safety.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred is anticipated to make landfall near Brisbane, Australia as a Category 2 storm on either Friday night or early Saturday morning. This rare occurrence threatens to deliver destructive winds and hazardous storm surges to the eastern coast of Australia, specifically targeting the city, which has not experienced a direct cyclone impact in over 50 years.

Cyclone Alfred, currently a Category 2 storm, is intensifying as it approaches, originating from the Coral Sea. The cyclone’s unexpected trajectory is taking it towards the southeastern coast of Queensland, a region not typically impacted by tropical cyclones. It poses a significant risk to Brisbane, a city of approximately 2.5 million residents.

As of Thursday morning, Cyclone Alfred was positioned 225 km east of Brisbane, moving at a slow speed of 7 km/h. The cyclone’s slow pace allows it to strengthen off warm waters, raising concerns over its potential impact as it approaches the mainland. Experts anticipate that this storm will affect areas between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, home to over 3 million people.

Weather forecasts predict that Cyclone Alfred will bring severe weather from Thursday evening through Saturday morning, with prolonged heavy rainfall expected even into the following week. The cyclone is classified as a Category 2 storm, with maximum wind speeds between 89 to 117 km/h, and is forecasted to produce up to 800 mm of rain in certain areas.

The cyclone will affect a stretch of coastline approximately 300 km long from Maroochydore to Byron Bay, with Brisbane and the Gold Coast likely to be the most severely impacted areas. Authorities predict up to 20,000 homes in Brisbane could experience flooding. Local officials are advising residents to prepare by securing their homes, stocking essential supplies, and planning evacuation routes.

Public transport services in southeast Queensland are expected to face significant disruption, with all bus and train operations suspended until further notice. Approximately 700 schools across Queensland and northern New South Wales have closed, and airlines such as Qantas and Virgin have canceled numerous flights due to the impending storm.

Australian authorities are proactively distributing sandbags to flood-prone areas to mitigate potential damage. Evacuation centres and emergency shelters are being established in response to the forecasted impacts of Cyclone Alfred, ensuring that residents have safe refuge as needed.

In summary, Cyclone Alfred poses a significant threat due to its anticipated impact on Queensland’s southeastern coast. As such, residents are urged to monitor updates, prepare adequately, and heed any evacuation orders issued by local authorities to ensure their safety during this rare storm.

In conclusion, Tropical Cyclone Alfred is set to make a highly anticipated landfall near Brisbane as a serious Category 2 storm. This event marks a rare cyclone impact on a region that historically has not experienced such weather conditions. With expected destructive winds and intense rainfall, residents are urged to prepare and remain alert to ensure their safety in the face of this weather emergency.

Original Source: www.aljazeera.com