Millions warned to brace for days without power as Tropical Cyclone Alfred is due to begin path towards coast

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Millions warned to brace for days without power as Tropical Cyclone Alfred is due to begin path towards coast

Millions have been warned to brace for days without power after Tropical Cyclone Alfred makes landfall later this week.

The cyclone was upgraded to a category two system overnight and is expected to turn west towards Brisbane on Tuesday, with it about 560km east of the capital as of that morning.

TC Alfred is forecast to make landfall somewhere between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast by about 4am on Friday, according to the Bureau of Meteorology’s latest forecast map.

Southeast Queensland residents and northeastern NSW coastal communities between Tewantin and Grafton have been warned to brace for damaging wind gusts up to 120km/h as early as Wednesday.

Heavy rainfall is also forecast for the areas, with a warning for “dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding” issued for near and south of the cyclone’s centre from Thursday into Friday.

The Bureau warns TC Alfred’s intensity may fluctuate in the coming days, but is expected to be a category two system when it crosses the southeast Queensland coast.

Camera IconCyclone Alfred is tipped to make landfall in Brisbane by about 4am Friday. Bureau of Meteorology. Credit: Supplied

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Energex regional field delivery general manager Kev Lavender said residents of southeast Queensland should prepare to go three days without power, however it was too early to predict what the exact impacts would be, according to The Courier Mail.

“We are ready to respond to any impacts from severe weather when it is safe to do so. Gale-force winds and floods can cause extensive damage to the electricity network, so be prepared for extended power outages,” the Energex website stated.

Island residents risk being cut off

Residents of North Stradbroke Island and Moreton Bay Island could be cut off from the mainland as ferry services are brought to a standstill, with many needing to urgently decide whether to stay or evacuate.

Multiple ferries will run final services on Tuesday, with Amity Trader to take off from Victoria Point at 11am and Coochie at 6.45pm, marking the last ferry until potentially Friday “depending on weather conditions”.

The Straddie Flyer will also run restricted services on Wednesday, while Southern Moreton Bay Island ferries may be cancelled on Wednesday, The Courier Mail reported.

SeaLink Bay Islands indicated services may also operate on a reduced schedule on Tuesday, however services may be further affected on Wednesday and Thursday as the cyclone is forecast to hit Brisbane.

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“We strongly advise postponing non-essential travel,” SeaLink Bay Islands posted to

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on Monday evening.

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Abnormally high tides on the coast between Sandy Cape and Yamba were forecast until at least Friday, with “significant beach erosion” due to damaging surf also a concern for open beaches between Sandy Cape and Yamba.

Multiple flood watches have been issued for catchments and rivers across both states.

NSW warned to brace for powerful swells, waves and extreme winds

Bureau of Meteorology hazard preparedness manager Steven Bernasconi on Wednesday said NSW was forecast to experience gale-force winds within 24 and 48 hours as a result of the cyclone.

He said “large and powerful swells and waves” had already been recorded on NSW’s north east corner on Monday, with abnormally high tides expected on Tuesday.

He said there would be abnormally high tides and rainfall should increase into Wednesday evening, with the potential for “locally intense falls” moving into Thursday and Friday.

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“Extreme winds” of 100km/h are expected towards Thursday and Friday, with waves in the southeast to potentially reach 8m and other offshore waves up to 15m.

The tropical cyclone watch spans from Sandy Cape down to the Coffs Harbour region in NSW, however Mr Bernasconi declined to say whether metro areas of NSW would also be affected by the weather event.

“That’s the current watch area for the tropical cyclone and its impacts,” Mr Bernasconi said.

“There’ll be rain elsewhere, of course, and there’ll be wind elsewhere, but that’s the focus area.”

More to come …

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