Tropical Cyclone Alfred Impacts Queensland and New South Wales with Severe Weather Warning
Tropical Cyclone Alfred is currently impacting Queensland and New South Wales with damaging winds and heavy rainfall, projected to make landfall by early Saturday morning. The storm remains a category two system, and emergency warnings for flash flooding and high tides have been issued. Over 20,000 properties currently experience power outages due to cyclone-related disruptions.
Tropical Cyclone Alfred is currently affecting Queensland and New South Wales, with expectations that the cyclone’s center will approach the coast on early Saturday morning. Currently classified as a category two system, it is anticipated that the storm will maintain this intensity until making contact with coastal regions and islands. Damaging winds and heavy rainfall are already being reported in the south-east Queensland vicinity as well as northern New South Wales, necessitating vigilant monitoring of the situation.
Recent updates indicate that Tropical Cyclone Alfred is still classified as category two, featuring winds of approximately 95 kilometers per hour and gusts reaching up to 130 kilometers per hour. Forecasts predict that the cyclone will make landfall either Friday night or in the early hours of Saturday morning. Severe weather warnings have been issued, which include the threat of dangerous flash flooding, abnormally high tides, damaging surf, and strong wind gusts.
The Bureau of Meteorology has released an updated warning at 1:53 AM. The designated warning area spans from Double Island Point in Queensland to Grafton in New South Wales, incorporating major locations such as Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Byron Bay, and Ballina. The Bureau cautions that as Cyclone Alfred advances, the severity of rainfall and wind is expected to escalate throughout the night.
As of 1:45 AM, over 20,000 properties in South East Queensland are without power due to disruptions caused by the cyclone. Reports suggest that the majority of affected individuals are on the Gold Coast, where more than 17,500 customers are experiencing outages. Additionally, the Redlands area near Brisbane is also facing power loss for around 2,000 properties.
In summary, the situation regarding Tropical Cyclone Alfred is evolving rapidly with significant impacts already visible across the affected regions. Emergency services continue to monitor the cyclone closely and provide updates to ensure public safety. Residents are advised to stay informed and heed all warnings from the Bureau of Meteorology.
In conclusion, Tropical Cyclone Alfred presents a serious threat to the coastlines of Queensland and New South Wales, with damaging winds and heavy rainfall already observed. The cyclone remains classified as category two as it approaches the coast, with predictions of increased severity in impacts and widespread power outages. Authorities encourage residents to stay updated on emergency warnings and take precautions as necessary.
Original Source: www.abc.net.au
