People on the projected path of Cyclone Alfred have been asked to "act now" and leave before the situation gets worse as an “extremely rare” Category 2 storm barrels towards Australia’s southeastern coast.
“There is a chance this cyclone will cross in the middle of the night with a high tide. That is not the time to be making your evacuation plan, now is the time,” Queensland premier David Crisafulli warned.
Brisbane is shutting down trains, buses and ferry services from Wednesday and several matches and events have been cancelled in Queensland and New South Wales (NSW).
Alfred is now about 325km east of Brisbane, according to the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM). It is moving towards the southeast Queensland coast at 16kmph.
There’s a concern that Alfred could slow down to 11kmph, which would be the “worst case scenario”, Higgins Storm Chasing’s Thomas Hinterdorfer told The Courier-Mail.
The storm is expected to make landfall on Thursday or Friday north of Brisbane, bringing more than half a metre of rain, flooding and destructive winds.
KEY POINTS
- Cyclone Alfred 'extremely rare event,' Queensland premier warns
- Cyclone Alfred path and forecast
- Map: Rainfall forecast from Cyclone Alfred
- Elderly woman injured in dangerous Gold Coast surf
- Buses and trains in Brisbane to shut down tonight ahead of Cyclone Alfred
- Airport closures and flight cancellations due to Cyclone Alfred
Elderly woman injured in dangerous Gold Coast surf as officials warn public to stay away
Wednesday 5 March 2025 10:54
,
Maroosha Muzaffar
A 78-year-old woman was hospitalised with head injuries after being swept up by a large wave at Currumbin Beach on Wednesday evening.
The Queensland Ambulance Service confirmed she sustained a deep cut but was in stable condition at Gold Coast University Hospital.
Acting Mayor Donna Gates urged residents to avoid beaches as the storm nears.
More schools closed
Wednesday 5 March 2025 10:54
,
Maroosha Muzaffar
More schools in NSW are closing this week due to the potential impacts of Tropical Cyclone Alfred, including flooding risks.
Over 230 public schools, 29 Catholic schools, five independent schools, and 16 TAFE campuses have shut down, with two TAFE campuses now serving as evacuation centres.
NSW education minister Prue Car emphasised that safety is the top priority.
“While we usually do not advocate for the closure of schools and places of learning, in these circumstances, an abundance of caution can be what keeps our community safe.”
Schools are expected to reopen on Monday, 10 March.
ADF delivers quarter of a million sandbags
Wednesday 5 March 2025 10:00
,
Stuti Mishra
Prime minister Anthony Albanese says that the Australian Defence Force (ADF) is now formally engaged in responding to Tropical Cyclone Alfred, as the system threatens Queensland and northern New South Wales.
An additional 250,000 sandbags will be delivered to the Queensland government, he told the media.
"We put in place a national supply; 125,000 of those have already been delivered," Mr Albanese says. "That’s on top of the 80,000 that were delivered by the ADF already."
Cyclone Alfred latest map, forecast and warnings
Wednesday 5 March 2025 09:19
,
Stuti Mishra
Tropical Cyclone Alfred is moving closer to the southeast Queensland and northern NSW coast, with damaging winds, storm surges, and life-threatening flash flooding expected to worsen overnight into Thursday.
Alfred is now just 325km east of Brisbane and 305km from the Gold Coast, according to the latest (5pm local time) update from the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM).
The area covered by the Cyclone Alfred warning zone stretches approximately 450-500 km along the east coast of Australia, from Double Island Point in Queensland to Ballina in New South Wales.
Damaging winds of 120kmph are already hitting Coolangatta and Ballina while gusts up to 155kmph could hit coastal areas as far south as Cape Byron from Thursday afternoon.
Dangerous storm tides could cause flooding in low-lying coastal areas if landfall coincides with high tide early Friday, the bureau said.
Heavy to locally intense rainfall is expected from late Thursday into Friday, increasing the risk of flash flooding.
Alfred is forecast to make landfall early Friday between Maroochydore and Coolangatta as a Category 2 cyclone.
Airport closures and flight cancellations due to Cyclone Alfred
Wednesday 5 March 2025 08:25
,
Stuti Mishra
Airports are shutting down and flights are being cancelled across southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales as Tropical Cyclone Alfred nears the coast.
Gold Coast Airport: The airport will close from 4pm today until further notice. No access will be allowed to the terminal, and people seeking shelter are being directed to the Burleigh Waters Community Centre evacuation centre.
Ballina Byron Gateway Airport: All flights cancelled for Wednesday and Thursday. A total of 22 flights were scheduled to arrive or depart.
Coffs Harbour Airport: Flights suspended from midnight Wednesday until at least midday Thursday.
Lord Howe Island: All Qantas flights cancelled on Wednesday.
Brisbane & Sunshine Coast Airports: Currently operating, but airlines warn further cancellations are possible.
“We have proactively cancelled a number of flights today from southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales," a Qantas Group spokesperson said.
“The situation remains fluid and flight cancellations and delays will evolve over the coming days.”
Earlier, airlines including Qantas, Virgin, Jetstar announced frexible fee-free date change options.
Qantas & Virgin: Customers who booked before 3 March can change their flight within 14 days or cancel for a travel credit.
Jetstar: Free date change 7 days before or 14 days after the original travel date, or a voucher for the full value of untravelled flights.
Map: Heavy rainfall forecast from Cyclone Alfred
Wednesday 5 March 2025 07:54
,
Stuti Mishra
Cyclone Alfred is expected to bring torrential rain, with some areas receiving up to 600mm over the next few days, according to forecast from Bureau of Meteorology (BoM).
The heaviest rainfall will likely occur south of landfall, affecting Brisbane, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, and northern New South Wales.
Expected rainfall totals by region:
Sunshine Coast to Gold Coast: 400-600mm, possibly higher in some areas
Brisbane and Moreton Bay region: 300-500mm
Northern NSW (Tweed, Byron, Lismore, Grafton): 250-400mm, with isolated higher totals possible in river catchments
Coastal areas from Fraser Island to Port Macquarie: 200-350mm
The most intense rainfall is forecasted to hit Thursday night into Friday, with rainfall rates exceeding 200mm in just three hours in some areas.
The latest rainfall map from the bureau shows a widespread area of extreme rainfall, particularly south of the cyclone's landfall, with northern NSW and southeast Queensland at highest risk.
The purple and pink areas on the map indicate the most intense rainfall zones, where flash flooding and major river flooding are highly likely.
The Bureau of Meteorology has also issued its first flood warnings for NSW’s Northern Rivers, with major flooding possible along the Bellinger River at Thora and Bellingen from Friday (See post below).
First flood warning issued for NSW as Cyclone Alfred nears
Wednesday 5 March 2025 07:25
,
Stuti Mishra
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has issued its first flood warnings for NSW’s Northern Rivers, as Cyclone Alfred brings heavy rainfall to the region.
Major flooding is possible along the Bellinger River at Thora from Friday afternoon, with water levels expected to rise to 5.8 metres, BoM said.
In Bellingen, the river could surge to 8.2 metres on Saturday, prompting further warnings of major flooding.
Minor flood warnings have also been issued for Repton and the Kalang River at Urunga from Friday afternoon.
“The timing and location of the heaviest falls will depend on the track of the cyclone,” BoM said, adding that the situation is being closely monitored with more warnings to come.
⚠️ Minor to Major Flood Warning for the #BellingerRiver and Moderate #FloodWarning for the #KalangRiver.
— Bureau of Meteorology, New South Wales (@BOM_NSW) March 5, 2025
Major flooding possible at #Thora from Friday afternoon. Major flooding possible at #Bellingen during Saturday.
Details: https://t.co/3Rpml4fPbw pic.twitter.com/cfRAejOnOh
Cyclone Alfred already generating 8-metre waves near epicentre
Wednesday 5 March 2025 06:48
,
Stuti Mishra
Massive waves are already building offshore as Cyclone Alfred moves closer, with wave heights exceeding 8–10 meters near the storm’s centre, forecast maps from Bureau of Meteorology (BoM), show.
As the cyclone moves closer, coastal areas in southeast Queensland and northern NSW could see dangerous storm surges, beach erosion, and life-threatening surf conditions over the next 48 hours.
Authorities are warning people to stay away from the water, as conditions will rapidly deteriorate. Flooded roads, coastal inundation, and strong rip currents are expected as the system nears landfall late Thursday or early Friday.
“Tropical Cyclone Alfred triggered the largest waves that we have recorded – over seven metres on Monday morning – since we first started measuring waves at One Tree Island in November 2022," Professor Ana Vila-Concejo from the University of Sydney, said.
“What makes it uniquely hazardous," she said, is that "the coast is already eroded from the run of NE and E swells and very high tides from the last couple of days.”
Buses and trains in Brisbane to shut down tonight ahead of Cyclone Alfred
Wednesday 5 March 2025 06:30
,
Stuti Mishra
Brisbane City Council has announced all bus services will be suspended from tonight’s last service until further notice as Tropical Cyclone Alfred approaches.
Buses: Last services tonight, then fully suspended
Trains: Suspended from Thursday until further notice
CityCat & Ferries: Already suspended
Authorities say services will only resume when it is safe.
Full address: Queensland premier David David Crisafulli on Cyclone Alfred
Wednesday 5 March 2025 06:15
,
Stuti Mishra
#LIVE: I’m delivering an update on Tropical Cyclone Alfred from the Gold Coast https://t.co/H9z5qtNKXk
— David Crisafulli (@DavidCrisafulli) March 5, 2025
Cyclone Alfred 'extremely rare event,' Queensland premier warns
Wednesday 5 March 2025 06:00
,
Stuti Mishra
Queensland premier David Crisafulli has warned residents to "prepare now" as he called Cyclone Alfred an "extremely rare event".
Authorities are bracing for mass power outages and severe impacts from Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
There is a chance this cyclone will cross in the middle of the night with a high tide. That is not the time to be making your evacuation plan, now is the time.
Mr Crisafulli warned.
With southeast Queensland residents already losing power, authorities say some areas could be left without electricity for up to three days.
The government has mobilized 1,000 Energex crew to begin restoring power as soon as it is safe.
“It is essential that we get power connected as quickly as we can after an event like this,” the premier said.
Mr Crisafulli reassured Queenslanders that the response and recovery efforts are already being coordinated.
“There will be no daylight between the response and the recovery. The best way to guarantee a good recovery is to do the little things now to keep yourself out of harm’s way,” he said.
The latest cyclone maps show Alfred closing in on the Queensland coast, with landfall expected late Thursday or early Friday.
'Don't leave home after 6pm tonight,' Gold Coast residents warned
Wednesday 5 March 2025 05:36
,
Stuti Mishra
Gold Coast residents have been warned to stay indoors after 6pm local time (8am GMT) tonight as flooding and destructive winds from Tropical Cyclone Alfred begin to take hold.
“This looks like the most significant event in our city in terms of destructive winds and heavy rain that we’ve seen since 1954,” acting mayor Donna Gates warned in a press conference this afternoon.
With 800mm of rain expected, she said conditions will be “awful” and warned residents to prepare for power outages as the cyclone intensifies.
“Very heavy rainfall will continue until late Friday and into the first half of Saturday,” she said.
Why Cyclone Alfred slowing down is 'worst case scenario'
Wednesday 5 March 2025 05:10
,
Stuti Mishra
Cyclone Alfred slowing down could be the worst-case scenario for southeast Queensland, experts warn.
The storm is currently moving at a speed of 16kmph, but experts fear it could slow down to 11kmph, which is significantly slower than a typical system.
A slow movement could mean Alfred will have more time to intensify, feeding off warm ocean waters and low vertical wind shear, making it stronger before it reaches the coast.
Meteorologist Thomas Hinterdorfer said that this could result in prolonged extreme weather, with some areas experiencing heavy rain, destructive winds, and storm surges for up to 12 to 14 hours.
"It’s going to have more time in the lower vertical shear. It’s going to have more time with the warm ocean waters, and all that fuel is gonna help it intensify,” Mr Hinterdorfer told The Currier Mail.
"It’s not a good scenario to have it, you know, being a bit slower, we’d much prefer it to come through faster.”
Similar slow-moving cyclones in the past have caused catastrophic destruction. In 2017, Cyclone Debbie stalled over southeast Queensland, unleashing up to 1,000mm of rain and triggering record-breaking floods. That same year, Hurricane Harvey in the US lingered over Texas, dumping over 1,500mm of rainfall and causing historic flooding in Houston. In recent years, slow moving storms have become a lot more common.
Full story: Cyclone Alfred path, warnings and evacuations
Wednesday 5 March 2025 04:50
,
Stuti Mishra
Cyclone Alfred path and forecast
Wednesday 5 March 2025 04:12
,
Stuti Mishra
A new map from Australia's Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) shows Cyclone Alfred is now about 345km east of Brisbane and 315km east of the Gold Coast.
It is moving towards the southeast Queensland coast at a speed of 16kph.
Alfred is a category 2 cyclone, and is forecast to maintain this intensity as it approaches the southeast Queensland coast on Thursday.
Alfred is expected to cross the coast early Friday morning, most likely between Maroochydore and Coolangatta, according to the BoM.
'By tomorrow, it will be too late'
Wednesday 5 March 2025 03:25
,
Stuti Mishra
Officials are asking people to "act now" and leave before the situation gets worse.
Tropical Cyclone Alfred is "not just a rain event" but "multiple wind events," warned Mike Wassing, commissioner of the New South Wales State Emergency Service.
"If you're living directly on the coast and you know where your high tide is, you will see water potentially half a metre above that high tide mark," the NSW SES commissioner says.
"You will potentially and very likely have winds impacting your location in excess of 100kmph. If you do not feel safe in that location now is the time to relocate."
Evacuation ordered as cyclone swirls towards Brisbane
Wednesday 5 March 2025 03:04
,
Shweta Sharma
Australia's east coast is bracing for a tropical cyclone that is swirling towards Brisbane, the country's third-most populous city.
Authorities warned thousands of properties were at risk due to strong winds and flash flooding.
"If you're told to leave, you should leave. I can't be more blunt than that," Queensland premier David Crisafulli told ABC News, calling on residents to heed evacuation orders.
Destructive wind gusts of up to 155kph (96 mph) are expected to develop from Thursday afternoon as tropical cyclone Alfred is expected to cross the coast as a category-two storm early on Friday morning near Queensland state capital Brisbane, Australia's weather bureau said.
Cruise ships change course as Cyclone Alfred looms
Wednesday 5 March 2025 02:30
,
Steffie Banatvala
Cunard’s Queen Anne, which left Sydney on 1 March for her 2025 inaugural world cruise, skipped Brisbane and sailed directly to Airlie Beach, and arrived on Tuesday.
She will continue as planned to Cairns on 6 March and spend an extra night in Darwin on 10 March before proceeding to Indonesia.
Norwegian Cruise Line have also cancelled stops on the way to Cairns, so that their ships will now sail directly.
Cyclone disrupts several Australian sporting events
Wednesday 5 March 2025 01:30
,
Steffie Banatvala
Cyclone Alfred has led to the cancellation of a golf event and prompted the Australian Football League (AFL) to postpone season-opening matches.
Golf officials called off the Ladies European Tour co-sanctioned WPGA Championship event on the Gold Coast amid forecasts for extreme wind and flooding.
The AFL, the top flight of Australian Rules football, has postponed two matches in southern Queensland, including Thursday's season-opener in Brisbane between the reigning champion Brisbane Lions and Geelong Cats.
Soccer governing body Football Queensland suspended all training and games in the state's southeast on Wednesday.
Other sporting events were called off, including national championships of touch football in New South Wales.
Intense rain and life-threatening flash-flooding: latest warning
Wednesday 5 March 2025 00:30
,
Steffie Banatvala
Cyclone Alfred could bring intense rainfall and life-threatening flash-flooding to the southeast of Queensland state and the northeast of New South Wales state, the Bureau of Meteorology said in its latest update.
Thousands flee homes as Alfred changes its course
Tuesday 4 March 2025 23:30
,
Steffie Banatvala
Thousands of Queensland residents have fled their homes as Cyclone Alfred intensified to a category two system.
Alfred changed its course towards the south-east Queensland coast.
The tropical cyclone is due to make landfall north of the city late Thursday or early Friday.
It’s predicted to bring major flooding, rain and destructive winds of up to 130kmh.
Explained: how to read tropical cyclone warning maps
Tuesday 4 March 2025 22:30
,
Steffie Banatvala
Mapped: Cyclone Alfred's path
Tuesday 4 March 2025 21:31
,
Steffie Banatvala
Cyclones caused by warm sea temperatures and weak wind shear: experts
Tuesday 4 March 2025 20:30
,
Steffie Banatvala
Meteorologists point to warm sea surface temperatures and weak wind shear as contributing factors to stronger storms in recent years.
Both of these may be linked to La Nina weather phenomenon, AccuWeather Lead International Expert Jason Nicholls explained.
A marine heat wave near Western Australia has lasted since September 2024, with unusually high sea surface temperatures in late February.
The Australian Bureau of Meteorology predicted more severe tropical cyclones in the South Pacific this season as oceans were warmer than expected.
Severe weather update: bureau
Tuesday 4 March 2025 19:30
,
Steffie Banatvala
Severe Weather Update 4 March 2025: Tropical Cyclone Alfred update.
— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) March 4, 2025
Video current as of 5:30pm AEST Tuesday 4 March 2025.
Know your weather, know your risk.
For the latest forecasts and warnings, go to our website https://t.co/4W35o8iFmh or the BOM Weather app. pic.twitter.com/25patWfh7p
Gold Coast Airport closes
Wednesday 5 March 2025 10:27
,
Maroosha Muzaffar
Gold Coast Airport will shut down from 4pm AEST on Wednesday due to the approaching cyclone.
“Passengers affected will be contacted by their airline regarding their options to reschedule travel," a statement from Gold Coast Airport said.
“The terminal building will be closed and there will be no public access from this time. For anyone seeking shelter, the closest evacuation centre is at Burleigh Waters Community Centre at 111 Christine Ave, Burleigh Waters.”
NASA images shows cyclone flurry
Tuesday 4 March 2025 18:30
,
Steffie Banatvala
Southern hemisphere sees six simultaneous tropical cyclones
Tuesday 4 March 2025 17:30
,
Steffie Banatvala
Cyclone Alfred is one of six named tropical cyclones spinning in the southern hemisphere.
Three formed in the Indian ocean and another three formed in the Pacific ocean.
The storms range from category one to category four level hurricanes, including Seru and Rae north of New Zealand, Alfred northeast of Australia, Bianca west of Australia, Honde off Mozambique and Garance off Madagascar.
Cyclone Alfred wrecks man’s bid to row across Pacific Ocean
Tuesday 4 March 2025 15:30
,
Stuti Mishra
The Australian Navy rescued a Lithuanian rower caught in tropical cyclone Alfred during his solo venture crossing the Pacific Ocean.
Aurimas Mockus, a 44-year-old adventurer, was 740km off the coast of Mackay in Central Queensland when he got caught in the path of the category one cyclone with winds gusting at 130kmph.
The vessel was attempting to row 12,000km from San Diego to Brisbane when it sent out distress signals after running into trouble on Friday night.
Read more from Alisha Rahman Sarkar.
Sandbags and empty shelves ahead of Cyclone Alfred
Tuesday 4 March 2025 14:30
,
Stuti Mishra
Millions of residents are bracing to survive for days without power and food supply as Cyclone Alfred comes closer.
Several grocery stores saw empty shelves on Tuesday as people stocked urgent supplies.
Residents were lining the boundaries of their homes with sandbags as heavy rainfall is feared to bring flooding on Thursday and Friday.
Cyclone Alfred latest forecast
Tuesday 4 March 2025 13:30
,
Stuti Mishra
Tropical Cyclone Alfred continues its approach toward southeast Queensland, with landfall expected late Thursday or early Friday between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast as a Category 2 cyclone.
On Tuesday evening local time 6pm (8am GMT), Alfred was 600 kilometres east of the Queensland-New South Wales border, according to the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM).
Cyclone Alfred is maintaining winds of around 100kmph, with gusts up to 150kmph.
The system, which had been moving southeast for several days, took a turn westward, getting directly on a path toward the Australian coast.
Authorities have expanded severe weather warnings across a large portion of eastern Australia. Heavy rainfall is expected to begin on Wednesday, intensifying Thursday and Friday, particularly near and south of Alfred’s crossing point.
Areas from the Sunshine Coast down to Coolangatta and Grafton are likely to receive several hundred millimetres of rain within 24 hours, leading to flash flooding and river flooding.
A flood watch has been issued from Bundaberg to Port Macquarie, with major flood levels possible in several rivers.
Wind gusts could reach 150kmph near and south of Alfred’s landfall, particularly affecting Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and parts of northern New South Wales.
Elevated inland areas, including the Northern Rivers and Northern Tablelands of New South Wales, may also experience damaging winds.
Storm surges are expected to peak on Thursday, particularly around Bribie Island, Moreton Bay, and parts of the Gold Coast. Large waves exceeding 10 metres could cause severe coastal erosion and hazardous surf conditions.
20,000 homes at risk of flooding in Brisbane, officials warn
Tuesday 4 March 2025 12:30
,
Stuti Mishra
Brisbane City Council has warned that 20,000 homes could be affected by flooding and storm surges as Cyclone Alfred turns towards the city.
“Residents at risk from significant storm surge and flooding are urged to consider relocating,” Mayor Adrian Schrinner said.
“Properties could experience anything from mild inundation in their yards to significant flooding in their homes."
The storm surge is expected to peak from Thursday with Cyclone Alfred’s projected landfall.
New council flood modelling has identified several high-risk suburbs, including Nudgee Beach, Brighton, Windsor, Ashgrove, Morningside, and Rocklea.
When and where will Cyclone Alfred make landfall?
Tuesday 4 March 2025 11:30
,
Stuti Mishra
Tropical Cyclone Alfred is projected to make landfall between late Thursday and early Friday.
The anticipated impact zone spans from the New South Wales border to Noosa in Queensland, with a probable landfall near Bribie Island, just north of Brisbane.
Alfred intensified into a Category 2 storm on Tuesday morning, situated approximately 600 kilometres east of Brisbane and moving southwestward.
Upon landfall, it is expected to maintain Category 2 intensity, bringing wind gusts up to 120 kmph and substantial rainfall, with forecasts indicating potential accumulations between 200 to 400mm over a three-day period.
Residents in the projected path, including densely populated areas such as Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and the Sunshine Coast, were advised to evacuate.
How Much Rain is Expected from Cyclone Alfred?
Tuesday 4 March 2025 10:40
,
Stuti Mishra
Tropical Cyclone Alfred is forecast to bring extreme rainfall to southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales, with meteorologists warning of potential life-threatening flooding in some areas.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM), affected regions could see between 300 to 600mm of rain, with some areas possibly receiving up to 700mm.
The highest rainfall totals are expected south of the cyclone’s landfall, particularly in coastal and inland areas of Queensland and New South Wales.
Dr Tom Mortlock, a climate expert at Aon, warns that even areas not directly in the cyclone’s path could face significant flooding.
“The ‘Great Flood of 1954’ was caused by a cyclone that made landfall near the Queensland border. The rainfall risk from Alfred could be just as severe in some areas.”
Is climate change responsible for Cyclone Alfred's unusual path?
Tuesday 4 March 2025 09:40
,
Stuti Mishra
Tropical Cyclone Alfred’s southern path has raised concerns among scientists, with experts questioning whether climate crisis is extending cyclone activity beyond traditional regions.
Associate professor Iftekhar Ahmed from the University of Newcastle explains that cyclones typically form in the tropics and warmer waters, but Alfred is moving further south than usual.
“Cyclone Alfred is predicted to impact northern NSW, which is generally not at risk for cyclones. The last cyclone warning here was more than 50 years ago,” Dr Ahmed said.
He suggests that rising global temperatures may be expanding the reach of tropical cyclones into areas that were previously considered safe.
“This could indicate that due to global warming, the reach of tropical cyclones is extending further than the tropics, requiring preparedness in areas where cyclones are unprecedented.”
While more research is needed to confirm whether Alfred’s track is directly linked to climate change, recent cyclones, like Jasper in 2023, have also taken unusual paths, prompting concern among meteorologists.
Dr Tom Mortlock, Head of Climate Analytics at Aon, warns that tropical cyclones reaching unusual territories, like in southeastern Queensland and northern NSW, pose a high risk due to unprepared populations and infrastructure.
“Most tropical cyclone risk actually resides in southeast Queensland. The probability is lower, but the risk, probability multiplied by consequence, is much greater,” Dr Mortlock said.
Scientists also point to warmer sea surface temperatures, that have been fuelling stronger hurricane and cyclones in recent years, and the warmth currently extend unusually far south.
“Right now, ocean temperatures are warm enough to sustain tropical cyclones down to Sydney, which is very unusual,” Dr Mortlock added.
Airlines offer free flight changes as Cyclone Alfred threatens Queensland and NSW
Tuesday 4 March 2025 08:10
,
Stuti Mishra
Major Australian airlines are offering passengers the chance to change or cancel their flights without fees as Cyclone Alfred threatens to bring dangerous winds and rainfall.
Qantas, Jetstar, and Virgin Australia have introduced flexible travel policies for those flying to or from several airports in Queensland and New South Wales between 4-9 March.
Passengers can either reschedule their flights at no extra cost or receive a travel credit or voucher if they choose to cancel.
"We're closely monitoring Tropical Cyclone Alfred off the coast of Queensland. If your flight is impacted, we'll notify you by SMS using the number provided in your booking," Qantas said in a statement.
Passengers flying to or from Ballina, Brisbane, Bundaberg, Hervey Bay, Gold Coast, and Maroochydore can now make fee-free date changes for up to 14 days from their original travel date, subject to availability.
Jetstar has also offered similar flexibility, allowing changes for flights to and from Sunshine Coast (Maroochydore), Hervey Bay, Brisbane, Gold Coast, and Ballina Byron Bay.
"We understand that some customers may no longer wish to travel," Jetstar said on its website, encouraging passengers to take advantage of the free rebooking options.
Golf tournament and AFL matches cancelled ahead of Cyclone Alfred
Tuesday 4 March 2025 07:10
,
Stuti Mishra
Tropical Cyclone Alfred has forced the cancellation of a major golf event and the postponement of AFL season-opening matches as it approaches Australia’s east coast.’
The WPGA Championship on the Gold Coast, co-sanctioned by the Ladies European Tour, was called off due to expected extreme wind and flooding.
"The decision has been made to ensure the safety of players, staff, fans and all stakeholders, which remains the priority," organisers said in a statement on Tuesday.
The AFL, the top flight of Australian Rules football, has also postponed two matches in southern Queensland, including Thursday night’s Brisbane Lions vs Geelong Cats game.
"Out of an abundance of caution, the AFL made the decision now to ensure the health and safety of clubs, players, officials... importantly - the wider southeastern Queensland and northern NSW community remains the priority," the AFL said in a statement.
The decision came after coaches urged the AFL to make an early call on the games."It sort of reminds me of the Covid situation," Geelong coach Chris Scott told Australian media.
"It's a bit unpalatable talking about when you prefer to play a game of footy when people are sandbagging their houses.
"The National Rugby League (NRL) match between the Dolphins and South Sydney Rabbitohs in Brisbane on Friday is also under review.
Football Queensland has suspended all training and matches in the state’s southeast. The Touch Football national championships in New South Wales have also been cancelled.
Cyclone Alfred is expected to make landfall late Thursday or early Friday, bringing intense rainfall, damaging winds, and life-threatening flash flooding to southeast Queensland and northeast New South Wales.
Why Cyclone Alfred's landfall is rare and unusual
Tuesday 4 March 2025 06:50
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Stuti Mishra
Tropical Cyclone Alfred's approach to Australia's southeastern coast is seen as unusual mainly due to its anticipated landfall near Brisbane – this is a region rarely impacted directly by tropical cyclones.
Cyclones typically form in the warmer waters of northern Australia and often dissipate before reaching the cooler southern regions.
The last time a cyclone made direct landfall near Brisbane was in 1974, making Alfred's trajectory notably uncommon.
Alongside Queensland, New South Wales is also under cyclone warnings.
Such a forecast is also unusual for NSW, said Steven Bernasconi, the Bureau of Meteorology's manager of hazard preparedness.
“This is unusual for NSW... We don't often have tropical cyclone watches and warnings in the NSW jurisdiction,” Mr Bernasconi said.
Mapped: Cyclone Alfred's path
Tuesday 4 March 2025 06:30
,
Stuti Mishra
Gold coast mayor warns Cyclone Alfred could be most significant system since 1954
Tuesday 4 March 2025 06:00
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