Cyclone Alfred as it happened: BoM forecasts storm to hit just north of Brisbane as heavy rainfall, strong wind batters the east coast; Lismore likely to flood tomorrow morning; PM to push election to May

Thank you for following our live coverage as Cyclone Alfred approaches the Queensland coast, and triggers evacuation orders in northern NSW. You can find our Saturday live coverage here.

Stay safe and follow the emergency advice as we prepare for Alfred to arrive.

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Here are some of today’s key developments:

• Brisbane City Council has ordered residents to take shelter immediately as Cyclone Alfred is predicted to cross north of Brisbane overnight.
• It advises residents to go to the strongest, safest part of the building and remain there. This will be away from big windows. It could be a bathroom, walk-in wardrobe, or hallway.
• The Bureau of Meteorology’s latest tracking map shows Alfred is forecast to hit the mainland about 8am (Queensland time) tomorrow.
• The cyclone is expected to lash northern NSW and South East Queensland with heavy rain and wind, forecast to peak early tomorrow.
• The cyclone is set to trigger wind gusts up to 140km/h and 800 millimetres of rain into the weekend from Brisbane to NSW’s Northern Rivers when it eventually arrives.
• Evacuation orders to leave before 7pm were issued to residents in parts of Port Macquarie, Settlement Point, Condong, South Murwillumbah and the Leycester Creek.
• An emergency alert has been issued to Gold Coast residents in the city’s coastal areas from Broadbeach to Jacobs Well and South Stradbroke Island.
• The Bureau of Meteorology has stated that Lismore in northern NSW is likely to flood by Saturday morning in its latest warning, with fears it could reach the height of the regional city’s levee.
• Schools, public transport, major roads and airports are closed, with elective surgeries also put on hold, but emergency departments remain open.
• The tropical cyclone will be the first to directly hit South East Queensland and north-east NSW in more than 50 years.
• Maps show Tropical Cyclone Alfred’s likely path as it heads for the coast. Follow its progress here.

How extensive the damage will be when Alfred hits is still unclear. Here is everything NSW and Queensland residents need to know as the situation progresses.

As ex-tropical cyclone Alfred moves north of Brisbane and turns inland, the focus turns to flood risks, fierce winds and hundreds of thousands of people without power.

Our photographers have been on the ground capturing these moments on Saturday.

Koa Love, 17 months old, plays on the street in front of his house with the dogs in Billinudgel, northern NSW.Credit: Danielle Smith

Flooding in low-lying parts of Lismore.Credit: Nick Moir

NSW Premier Chris Minns, Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib, and Lismore MP Janelle Saffin joined nervous Lismore residents to watch the river rise at the Browns Creek pumping station.Credit: Nick Moir

Wild seas and beach erosion at Miami Beach on the Gold Coast.Credit: Dan Peled

Wild seas at Miami Beach.Credit: Dan Peled

Thank you for following our live coverage as Cyclone Alfred approaches the Queensland coast, and triggers evacuation orders in northern NSW. You can find our Saturday live coverage here.

Stay safe and follow the emergency advice as we prepare for Alfred to arrive.

---

Here are some of today’s key developments:

• Brisbane City Council has ordered residents to take shelter immediately as Cyclone Alfred is predicted to cross north of Brisbane overnight.
• It advises residents to go to the strongest, safest part of the building and remain there. This will be away from big windows. It could be a bathroom, walk-in wardrobe, or hallway.
• The Bureau of Meteorology’s latest tracking map shows Alfred is forecast to hit the mainland about 8am (Queensland time) tomorrow.
• The cyclone is expected to lash northern NSW and South East Queensland with heavy rain and wind, forecast to peak early tomorrow.
• The cyclone is set to trigger wind gusts up to 140km/h and 800 millimetres of rain into the weekend from Brisbane to NSW’s Northern Rivers when it eventually arrives.
• Evacuation orders to leave before 7pm were issued to residents in parts of Port Macquarie, Settlement Point, Condong, South Murwillumbah and the Leycester Creek.
• An emergency alert has been issued to Gold Coast residents in the city’s coastal areas from Broadbeach to Jacobs Well and South Stradbroke Island.
• The Bureau of Meteorology has stated that Lismore in northern NSW is likely to flood by Saturday morning in its latest warning, with fears it could reach the height of the regional city’s levee.
• Schools, public transport, major roads and airports are closed, with elective surgeries also put on hold, but emergency departments remain open.
• The tropical cyclone will be the first to directly hit South East Queensland and north-east NSW in more than 50 years.
• Maps show Tropical Cyclone Alfred’s likely path as it heads for the coast. Follow its progress here.

How extensive the damage will be when Alfred hits is still unclear. Here is everything NSW and Queensland residents need to know as the situation progresses.

Brisbane City Council has just updated its flood map following Bureau of Meteorology predictions for intense rainfall and an increased likelihood for flash flooding as Cyclone Alfred nears the south-east Queensland coast.

The new mapping, released at 8.40pm tonight Brisbane time, includes overland flow and it has also updated storm surge chart, which shows 20,350 properties at risk of storm surge and flooding.

Flash flooding in Lismore on Friday night.Credit: NIck Moir

“Residents are reminded every severe weather event is different and rainfall is difficult to predict,” the council wrote on social media.

“The flood map is for general awareness and is based on the best available information at the time.

“Even if your property isn’t marked as flooded, it could still be at risk.“

The updated flood map can be viewed here.

Brisbane City Council has ordered residents to take shelter immediately as Cyclone Alfred is predicted to cross north of Brisbane overnight.

It advises residents to go to the strongest, safest part of the building and remain there. This will be away from big windows. It could be a bathroom, walk-in wardrobe, or hallway.

“The wind is very dangerous and will be very loud,” the statement reads.

“You will hear things breaking outside and hitting your house.

“Winds could stop suddenly if the eye of the tropical cyclone goes over. Very dangerous winds could start again quickly from a different direction.”

Four million people in south-east Queensland are sweating on Alfred’s arrival after the cyclone stalled. Alfred is set make landfall just north of Brisbane’s CBD as a category 1 cyclone on Saturday morning, 24 hours later than initially predicted.

It will be a sleepless night for many on the Gold Coast and north-east NSW with damaging gusts, heavy rain and flooding forecast to strike.

Millions of people have anxiously hunkered down at home as they brace for the cyclone.

It will be the first cyclone to impact Queensland’s south-east since 1974 – when it finally arrives in Brisbane.

Alfred’s late slowdown will provide no respite, with the delay ensuring heavy rain and massive surf will hit South East Queensland and northern NSW for longer.

A fallen tree at the Rails Hotel in Byron Bay.Credit: Kaihla McConnell

You’ve probably heard about cyclones having “eyes” in the middle, and there being a period of quiet weather when the centre of the system passes overhead. But will this happen with Cyclone Alfred?

We asked the bureau directly and this is what they told us – with information current this evening.

Weatherzone image of Cyclone Alfred at 9.30pm AEDT on Friday.

“Currently a category 2 cyclone, Tropical Cyclone Alfred does not have a distinct, fully formed eye in the cloud structure, like that which a much stronger cyclone (category 3+) could develop,” a spokesperson said in a statement.

“Tropical Cyclone Alfred currently has an incomplete eye, and it does not have a clear eyewall.

“An approximate diameter for the incomplete eye is 80 km. This information may change overnight dependent on the movement and development of Tropical Cyclone Alfred.”

So, what does that mean for our experience of a quiet period while the storm is directly above us?

“There may not be an abrupt change into a quiet period, but rather one that will fade in and out. In this case, it will be difficult for people to notice an exact change time.”

As emergency alerts start rolling out across Brisbane and Redland Bay, Queensland health has shared some sweet advice for people feeling anxious tonight.

Queensland Health message.

Cyclone Alfred is hours from making landfall. Damaging winds are now predicted to hit Brisbane in early daylight hours. As the system closes in, we’d like to know what you’re seeing from your place.

Video and photos can be sent through the box below. Please include the suburb you’re in, and leave details if you’d like to speak to a reporter. Stay safe.

Staying with health advice for a moment, Associate Professor Ian Wright at Western Sydney University warns that flood waters can be highly contaminated.

Flooding of urban areas often disrupts sewerage systems and triggers faecal contamination of flood waters.

Also, the electricity, telecommunication and drinking water systems can also fail, due to flood damage.

These problems can last for weeks after the flood peak has passed and the clean-up work begins.

I urge people to limit contact with floodwaters and post-flood residues.

Also, care needs to be taken if people have any cuts or scratches that may allow flood-contaminated waters to cause infections.

Remember that young, elderly and others with weaker immune systems will need to be particularly careful. Having a first aid kit at-hand will be important.

If possible, have bottled water available for an emergency. Or be prepared to boil water. If you can, while you have clean drinking water available, fill empty bottles before floods may eventuate.