Millions of residents along Australia’s eastern coastline are preparing for the arrival of Tropical Cyclone Alfred, the most southerly cyclone to pose a threat to the region in over five decades.
The system, carrying winds equivalent to a category 1 Atlantic hurricane, is forecast to make landfall south of Brisbane early Friday.
With the possibility of striking at high tide, the cyclone presents additional challenges for emergency responders in the days ahead.
Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, speaking from Brisbane on Wednesday, highlighted the unusual nature of the storm.
“This is a rare event – to have a tropical cyclone in an area that is not classified as part of the tropics, here in southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales (NSW),” he said.
The last time a cyclone of similar intensity impacted Brisbane was in 1974, when Cyclone Zoe caused devastating floods in the city and the Northern Rivers region of NSW.
However, with Brisbane’s population having more than doubled since then, experts warn that the worst impacts of Cyclone Alfred may be felt further south, along the heavily visited beaches stretching from the Gold Coast to northern NSW.
Coastal management expert, Darrell Strauss, from Griffith University emphasized the multiple hazards posed by the storm.
“We haven’t seen anything quite like this for a good 50 years,” he said.
“There are areas where storm surge is the biggest problem, and then there’s areas where high waves and coastal erosion and inundation from the sea directly due to the waves are a big problem. So, we’ve got a combination of all of that from Brisbane to the Northern Rivers (of NSW),” Strauss added.
As of Wednesday, the cyclone was positioned more than 400 kilometers (250 miles) off the coast, moving westward with destructive winds reaching up to 120 kilometers per hour (75 miles per hour), according to Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology (BOM).
With creeks and rivers in northern NSW already at risk of flooding, concerns are growing over a repeat of the catastrophic 2022 deluge, which saw multiple waterways overflow.
Many homes affected by those floods remain uninhabitable, with residents still living in temporary accommodations.
NSW Premier Chris Minns expressed his concern over the potential devastation, particularly for already struggling communities.
“The Northern Rivers has gone through hell over the last few years. We’re particularly concerned about some of those communities,” he said Tuesday.
Brisbane residents are taking no chances, fortifying their homes with sandbags and clearing store shelves of essential supplies as authorities warn of potential flash flooding.
The Lord Mayor’s office estimates that around 20,000 properties in the city could be impacted by storm surges or rising waters.
Meanwhile, beaches across northern NSW and the Queensland coast have been closed as authorities caution against hazardous surf conditions.
Waves exceeding 5 meters (16 feet) are expected, with storm surges potentially reaching up to 10 meters (32 feet), according to the NSW State Emergency Services.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli urged those in at-risk coastal areas to heed evacuation orders.
“If it was the case that this system, which has strengthened, was to cross on high tide in the middle of the night, and you’re in that storm surge, the last place you want to be is in your home. So, now’s the time,” he warned.
In response to the cyclone threat, major sporting events have been canceled, and schools in affected areas will remain closed on Thursday and Friday.
Strong winds also pose a significant risk, particularly in regions accustomed to heavy rainfall but less familiar with cyclone-strength gusts.
Authorities have urged residents to secure any loose objects that could become dangerous projectiles in the powerful winds.
