Tropical Cyclone Alfred now expected to make landfall on Friday afternoon

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Tropical Cyclone Alfred now expected to make landfall on Friday afternoon

Slow-moving Tropical Cyclone Alfred is now tipped to make landfall between Maroochydore and Coolangatta on Friday afternoon.

The category 2 cyclone was 325km east of Brisbane and 300km east of the Gold Coast on Thursday morning, moving west-southwest at 7km/h.

A warning zone was issued for Double Island Point in Queensland to Grafton in NSW, including Brisbane, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Byron Bay and Ballina but not including Grafton.

The cyclone is expected to cross the coast on Friday afternoon, likely between Maroochydore and Coolangatta.

Senior forecaster Gabriel Branescu told ABC Brisbane the cyclone had slowed, which could lead to the system making landfall “even later” if it continues to slow down.

“At this stage we don’t expect the system to make landfall tonight but rather during the day on Friday,” Mr Branescu said.

The cyclone was initially expected to cross the coast in the early hours of Friday morning, with concerns it could have coincided with high tide.

It is expected to maintain its category 2 intensity as it approaches the coast.

Camera IconThe category 2 cyclone was 325km east of Brisbane and 300km east of the Gold Coast on Thursday morning. Bureau of Meteorology. Credit: Supplied

Rare 12m wave recorded off Gold Coast beach

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said a 12.3m wave was recorded off Main Beach in the Gold Coast.

He said the system “certainly packs a punch” while speaking on Sunrise Thursday morning.

“To give you an indication of the kind of severity of it, we recorded a wave — I just got briefed a moment ago, 12.3m off the coast of the Gold Coast at Main Beach, which we have never seen a wave height recorded like that,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“So it is a strong system and that delayed run into the coast does give people who may not have finished their preparations that little bit more of a window.”

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Mr Crisafulli said the cyclone had done a “loop on itself” overnight, which delayed the predicted landfall time frame.

“That is pretty rare but it can happen. And in the end it gives people a little bit more of a window but it still remains a category two,” he said.

“It still has most things we speak about, strong winds and potential for a lot of rain.“I have every confidence we have done the little things that make a big difference and increasingly I do believe people are taking the event seriously, and that gives people the best chance, so make sure you know if you are in one of those storm tide surges or in a flood zone.

“If you’re not in that area the vast majority of people, get your home ready, remove loose items, prepare to be able to bunker down with your family and you’ll get through it.”

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‘Stay indoors’: NSW warning

The NSW SES issued a watch and act severe weather alert on Thursday morning, urging people between Tweed Heads and Evans Head to stay inside unless directed to evacuate.

The alert was issued for those in Tweed Heads, Murwillumbah, Mullumbimby, Byron Bay, Kyogle, Nimbin, Lismore, Lennox Head, Ballina, Casino, Woodburn, Maclean, Yamba, Kingscliff, Coraki, Wardell, Broadwater and Evans Head.

“You should monitor the situation as it is constantly changing,” the alert read.

The Bureau of Meteorology warned destructive wind gusts could develop on Thursday and Friday.

“Destructive wind gusts of up to 155 kilometres per hour may develop about coastal and island locations near, and to the south of, the cyclone centre, possibly as far south as Cape Byron, late Thursday or early Friday as Alfred’s destructive core approaches and crosses the coast,” the alert stated.

Gales with damaging wind gusts up to 120km/h are already developing near the coast around Coolangatta to Ballina, with the gusts expected to move through the rest of southeast Queensland and northeastern NSW between Double Island Point and Grafton on Thursday through to Friday.

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The Bureau of Meteorology warned a dangerous storm tide could develop along the coastal foreshore in exposed areas potentially as far as Cape Byron if the cyclone crosses the coast during high tide.

Dangerously high tides could cause coastal erosion and “some inundation of low-lying areas” near exposed Gold Coast beaches, including to the NSW and Queensland border and Tweed Coast.

The Bureau’s alert reported abnormally high tides would likely continue to bring on minor flooding of coastal low lying areas between Double Island Point and Grafton, as well as damaging surf which could also lead to beach erosion.

Heavy rainfall could develop along Queensland’s southeast and northeastern NSW from Thursday night.

The Bureau warned heavy to locally intense rainfall could lead to “dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding” as the cyclone moves towards the coast.

‘2022 flood situation’: Lord Mayor

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner earlier warned a “2022 flood situation” could be on the way due to high rainfall total predictions.

“Although a slim chance, but there is a chance that we could get up to 700mm across three days,” Mr Schrinner told ABC Radio.

“If that eventuates, then we’re talking about more like a 2022 flood situation.”

Mr Schrinner earlier said nearly 20,000 properties across Brisbane could be affected by the storm surge or flooding.

More to come …

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