Your Tropical Cyclone Alfred questions answered

South East Queenslanders should prepare to lose power today and conserve water as Alfred approaches, authorities say. Here, we answer your key questions about what to expect in the coming hours and days.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred is predicted to intensify again before making landfall as it continues to forge a slow and destructive path towards South East Queensland.

Here, we answer the key questions around what to expect.

When is Tropical Cyclone Alfred expected to make landfall?

Cyclone Alfred has sped up slightly and is approaching the coast at 8km/h. It is now expected to hit the mainland at 10am Saturday, north of Brisbane.

Where will it cross?

Alfred is most likely to cross over the Moreton Bay Islands early Saturday morning before crossing the mainland coast, most likely between Noosa and Beenleigh later during Saturday.

Where is Alfred now?

The system is located 150km east of Brisbane and 125km northeast of Gold Coast moving at 8km/h.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred's tracking map as of the 10.10am Bureau of Meteorology update.

What category will Alfred be when it makes landfall?

At the moment, the models are split. Some say it could remain a category 2 as it crosses the coast, while others say it could weaken to a category 1.

The weather bureau says it is likely to maintain category 2 strength as it approaches the offshore islands tonight and weaken afterwards.

Alfred’s centre is expected to weaken to a category 1 system as it crosses the mainland.

What can I expect when Alfred makes landfall?

Six-hourly rainfall totals between 200mm and 250mm and 24-hourly totals between 350mm and 450mm are possible. These rainfall numbers are dependent on the movement and position of the system. Destructive wind gusts of up to 155km/h are expected during Friday and into Saturday.

What areas will be impacted?

The following regions are listed in the weather bureau’s warning zones: Double Island Point in Queensland to Grafton in New South Wales, including Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Byron Bay and Ballina.

How long could the crossing last?

Alfred’s crossing could last three, six or even nine hours once it makes landfall.

How far did the system move overnight?

Just 20km, which according to the Bureau of Meteorology is unusual for such a powerful system.

A boy evades a incoming wave at Tweed Heads ahead of Alfred’s arrival. Picture: Getty Images

Can I expect my power to go out? If so, when?

South East Queensland residents should be prepared to lose power today – and possibly be without power for up to a week.

According to Energex, almost 40,000 South East Queensland residents – primarily on the Gold Coast, Scenic Rim, and in the Redlands – are without power as of Friday morning.

As the winds start to move north, residents living in other regions in South East Queensland will become impacted.

When Tropical Cyclone Alfred makes landfall on Saturday, mass power outages are likely to occur.

Energex has already suspended restoration services on the Gold Coast until after the cyclone has passed due to the ongoing danger.

“So if you’re out now, we won’t commence restoration until after Alfred passes and it is safe to do so,” a spokesman said.

Can I expect to lose water? When?

While every effort is being made to ensure water supply continues, people should be prepared for the scenario that access is hampered.

Water utility company Seqwater has advised that it has more than a day’s supply of treated water in reserve.

The entity has 32 water treatment plants across South East Queensland, including the Gold Coast desalination plant which is ready to be used if necessary, with 1000Ml of treated water in reserve in case further treatment was disrupted.

However, potential power outages could cause issues.

While generators have been kept at some plants for back-up power supply in case of blackouts, Mount Crosby’s west and east plants – which supply 60 per cent of SEQ’s water – are too large for generators.

The Mount Crosby plants have dual high-voltage power supplies from Energex.

South East Queensland residents have been urged to conserve their drinkable water in the days after Tropical Cyclone Alfred hits the coast.

Can I still go to the supermarket this morning?

Many Coles and Woolworths supermarkets are closed, while some are still open. However, people are being urged to stay home as Alfred approaches.

Woolworths has said some of its stores in Brisbane and Sunshine Coast are open to the community, however they may only remain open for a matter of hours.

“We ask customers to please check the latest operating hours for their local store on the Woolworths website, which will be regularly updated,” it said in a statement.

How long will the airports be closed?

Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia have halted all services in and out of Brisbane until Sunday at the earliest. Gold Coast flights are facing a similar hiatus, and services into Ballina would remain suspended until Sunday morning.

How long will drinking water last?

Water utility company Seqwater has more than a day’s supply of treated water in reserve, but its CEO urges people to conserve their drinkable water in the days after Tropical Cyclone Alfred hits the coast.