As a powerful cyclone bears down on eastern Australia, hundreds of thousands of people are being evacuated ahead of its expected landfall on Saturday morning. Cyclone Alfred is already bringing heavy rain, massive waves, and strong winds, causing power outages and forcing the closure of airports. The storm is anticipated to make landfall at a category 2 level, with winds of up to 95 km/h and gusts of up to 130 km/h, according to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology.
The cyclone’s path has slowed in recent days, moving in an “erratic” manner, which has delayed its expected landfall. This has given authorities more time to prepare, but it also means that the storm’s impact will be felt over a longer period. More than 4 million people are in the cyclone’s path, which is expected to hit between the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast, a popular tourist region known for its beautiful beaches, as well as Brisbane, Australia’s third-largest city.
In addition to the strong winds, Cyclone Alfred is expected to bring heavy rainfall of up to 800 mm over the next few days, which will affect a large area in southern Queensland and northern New South Wales. Flash flooding and riverine flooding are major concerns in the affected areas, with nearly 1,000 schools closed, public transportation suspended, and airports shut down. Flights are expected to resume by Sunday at the earliest.
While Queensland is no stranger to cyclones, being one of the most disaster-prone states in Australia, it is rare for a cyclone to hit the southern part of the state. The last time this happened was in 1974, when Cyclone Wanda made landfall in January, followed by Cyclone Ivy two months later. However, flooding is a more frequent occurrence, with thousands of homes damaged by heavy rainfall in eastern Australia in February 2022.
Authorities have been preparing communities for Cyclone Alfred, with local councils opening sandbag distribution centers across the region to help residents protect their homes. As the storm approaches, residents are bracing themselves for the worst, with many evacuated to safer areas. The situation is being closely monitored by emergency services, with updates and warnings being issued regularly.
Source: BBC
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