Massive power outages, wind and rain ramps up as Tropical Cyclone Alfred nears

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Massive power outages, wind and rain ramps up as Tropical Cyclone Alfred nears

Tropical Cyclone Alfred is making its presence felt along the east coast as the clock ticks under 24 hours before it makes landfall.

Tens of thousands of homes and businesses are without power and wind gusts in excess of 100km/h have already been recorded as the system bears down on southeast Queensland and northern NSW.

The category 2 system was 195km east of Brisbane and 180km east-northeast of the Gold Coast as of the Bureau of Meteorology’s update at 6am (AEDT).

Senior forecaster Christie Johnson said on Friday morning that Alfred’s impact would be felt “well and truly before it makes landfall”.

Camera IconCouncils along the Gold Coast are threatening fines to anyone who ventures into the water ahead of Cyclone Alfred. NewsWire / Tertius Pickard Credit: News Corp Australia

“It looks like it will initially make landfall on Moreton Island in the very early hours of (Saturday), or close to midnight, and then move across the mainland coast through the early hours of tomorrow,” she told the ABC.

“It’ll be those sort of conditions that we’re used to seeing for 20 minutes or so at a time with a thunderstorm coming through … but potentially sustained for six hours or more.”

Areas around Byron Bay have recorded wind gusts over 100km/h in the early hours of Friday.

More than 26,000 homes and businesses lost power in southeast Queensland on Thursday night and Friday morning as the wild conditions set in.

The Gold Coast suburbs of Coolangatta and Mudgeeraba bore the brunt.

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Across the border, Energex is reporting similar outage numbers for northeast NSW.

Fallen power lines and debris have knocked out power for thousands of people.

Rain gauges have already begun filling up, possibly foreshadowing what is to come, with the past 24 hours bringing 195mm of rain for Dorrigo, 137mm for Nimbin and 126mm for Mullimbimby.

More to come

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#Massive #power #outages #wind #rain #ramps #Tropical #Cyclone #Alfred #nears

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