Most Aussie reaction as cyclone Alfred bears down on coast

Dramatic footage shows the moment a Gold Coast car park was inundated with water as cyclone Alfred approaches.

A Gold Coast punter has captured the moment a tidal surge flooded a packed car park as Tropical Cyclone Alfred rolls toward landfall.

The dramatic footage was posted to TikTok on Wednesday showing water rushing up a path to Currumbin Alley south of Palm Beach.

“What the? Holy s*** …” the clip’s author can be heard saying.

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Several vehicles can be seen in the car park, with one driver attempting to vacate the area as seawater streamed in.

Gold Coast residents are battening down the hatches as a potential category two cyclone approaches and is expected to hit late Friday or early Saturday.

But it has not stopped some people visiting the city’s iconic beaches – even if authorities have warned against that due to the dangerous conditions.

Thousands of people are out and about to watch the swell at Kirra as Cyclone Alfred sits off the coast. Pics Adam Head

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Monster waves have been monitored off the coast including one measuring 12.3m, which Queensland Premier David Crisafulli described as the “highest ever recorded”.

“Why are people going to the beach during a cyclone warning?” one person wrote on TikTok.

“You do realise it isn’t like a river that will take you downstream and you are good, this is the ocean … if it takes you, you will be gone,” another commented.

On Wednesday afternoon a 78-year-old woman was swept up by a large wave at Currumbin Alley as locals came down to see the huge swell.

Thousands of people are out and about to watch the swell at Kirra as Cylcone Alfred sits off the coast. Pics Adam Head

The Queensland Ambulance Service said she suffered a cut to her head and was sent to Gold Coast University Hospital in a stable condition.

Acting Mayor Donna Gates earlier pleaded for people to stay away from beaches as the storm approaches.

Acting Gold Coast Mayor Donna Gates has warned residents not to put themselves in danger with Alfred presenting a “scary proposition” for the region.

“We’re not trying to be alarmist in any way, but there is not one modelling scenario that advises a good outcome at this point in time for the Gold Coast,” she told 7.30.

Originally published as Most Aussie reaction as cyclone Alfred bears down on coast