Canberra: Cyclone Alfred has stalled off the eastern coast of Australia, prompting widespread closures of airports, schools, and public transport as authorities brace for severe weather. Residents have been stockpiling supplies and reinforcing their homes with sandbags in anticipation of heavy rainfall, strong winds, and flooding once the category-two storm makes landfall.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, Alfred is now expected to hit near Brisbane by Saturday morning, delaying its arrival from the previously predicted early Friday. The cyclone's impact is expected to span across Queensland and New South Wales, bringing dangerous weather conditions, including torrential rain and damaging winds.
"Alfred is acting like an unwelcome guest—it’s arriving late and will be staying longer than we'd like," said New South Wales Premier Chris Minns. He warned that the extended duration of the storm means the risks of destruction—intense winds, powerful surf, and flooding—will persist for a longer period.
Authorities have issued storm warnings covering more than 500 kilometers (311 miles) along the northeast coast. Coastal areas are already experiencing large waves and significant beach erosion, and officials are urging residents in flood-prone zones to evacuate before conditions worsen.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese assured that the defence force is prepared to assist emergency services as needed. The slow movement of the cyclone could result in extended heavy rainfall, especially in northern New South Wales, increasing the likelihood of dangerous flash floods, said meteorologist Dean Narramore.
More than 5,000 properties in southeast Queensland and several thousand in northern New South Wales have already lost power, with officials warning of further outages as winds intensify.
Brisbane Airport announced it would halt operations from 4 p.m. Thursday (0600 GMT), though terminals will remain open for defence-related activities. Qantas Airways has suspended international flights from Brisbane until midday Saturday and domestic flights until Sunday morning.
Over 1,000 schools in southeast Queensland and 250 in northern New South Wales have been closed, while Brisbane’s public transport services have been suspended.
Authorities have described Alfred as a "very rare event" for Brisbane, as the city has not experienced a direct cyclone hit since 1974. Near misses occurred in 1990 and 2019, but Alfred poses a direct threat, making this an extraordinary weather event for the region.
