Cyclone Alfred: System performs second pirouette as 24-hour countdown to chaos begins

Tropical Cyclone Alfred has performed its second pirouette and is predicted to make landfall as a category 1 system as it continues to forge a slow and destructive path towards SEQ. LATEST UPDATES

Tropical Cyclone Alfred has performed its second pirouette and is predicted to make landfall as a category 1 system as it continues to forge a slow and destructive path towards South East Queensland.

The latest tracking data from the Bureau of Meteorology, released just before 2am Friday, showed Alfred would strike Moreton Island as a category 1 system about 1am Saturday.

The slow-moving system would then continue its journey west and make landfall around the southern end of Bribie Island and Sandstone Point 3-6 hours later.

The modelling also showed Alfred had spun back around to the east for the second time.

“Alfred is currently category 2 and is expected to remain of similar intensity until the centre starts to interact with the coast and islands,” the bureau said.

The latest tracking data from the Bureau of Meteorology showed Alfred would strike Moreton Island as a category 1 system about 1am Saturday.

Damaging winds of up to 120km/h were developing near the coast between Cape Moreton and Cape Byron, while gales were predicted to develop across coastal and island communities between Noosa and Ballina into Friday morning.

These dangerous winds were expected to persist throughout Friday, before easing late Saturday morning.

The bureau warned destructive gusts of up to 155km/h may develop about coastal and island locations near, and to the south of, the cyclone centre, as Alfred’s destructive core approaches the coast.

Cindy and Shane Hyde take a short break from preparations ahead of the arrival of cyclone Alfred at their home in near Birkdale. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail

Dangerous storm tides along the coastal foreshore between Cape Moreton and Yamba are likely, with tides expected to rise far above the high tide mark and threaten to overwhelm low-lying areas.

These abnormally high tides will likely continue to cause minor flooding of coastal areas between Double Island Point and Grafton, particularly during the time of high tides early Friday morning and early Saturday morning.

Six-hourly rainfall totals between 60mm and 120mm were likely, and could increase to 180mm around Scenic Rim and Gold Coast Hinterland.

Twenty-four-hour rainfall totals between 100mm and 180mm are likely and could increase to around 300mm to 350mm for Scenic Rim and Gold Coast Hinterland.

The rainfall is expected to extend further north and west during Friday.

Premier David Crisafulli urged South East Queenslanders not to be complacent after Alfred stalled off the coast of Brisbane.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred nears Queensland coast

Mr Crisafulli warned the severe weather system still packed a punch.

His NSW counterpart Chris Minns said: “The window for destruction in our community – heavy rains, winds, powerful surf – is longer than we would have otherwise.”

Strong winds and powerful surf were already wreaking havoc on the Sunshine and Gold coasts as well as in northern New South Wales. A jet ski rider was feared missing in monster swell in waters off Duranbah near Tweed Heads late on Thursday.

Emergency crews were also called to Noosa North Shore on Thursday after multiple people ran into trouble while out on a jet ski.

The oceanfront Burleigh Pavilion resembled a heavily fortified bunker with windows boarded up and piles of sand bags stacked around doorways and entrances.

Wind gusts of more than 63km/h were recorded at the Gold Coast Seaway on Thursday, with expectations this would increase steadily overnight to 92km/h.

Cyclone Alfred has whipped up huge storm surges on the Gold Coast. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Weather bureau senior meteorologist Matt Collopy said on Thursday afternoon Alfred had looped back on to itself before resuming its westward track toward the coast.

“This erratic movement has resulted in a delay to forecast crossing,” he said.

“It approaches the outer islands very late on Friday and is expected to cross the coast in the early hours of Saturday with the most likely track still between the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast near Brisbane as a category 2 system.”

Mr Collopy said the cyclone would take three to six hours to cross the coast, but there was the possibility it could take longer. He said the system would drench the southeast from Thursday afternoon into Saturday.

Cylone Alfred, a car flattened by a tree in Ocean Shores Northern NSW today

“Typically, tropical cyclones as they cross are very erratic, but we are expecting two days, perhaps two-and-a-half days’ worth of rainfall as this system both approaches, weakens, and then moves inland,” Mr Collopy said.

The meteorologist said strong winds could linger if the system stalls, but predictions indicate it would weaken as it approaches land.

He said if it crossed at high tide there was a risk of storm surges up to 1.5m.

Acting Police Commissioner Shane Chelepy said emergency services were positioned from the Sunshine Coast to the Gold Coast, ready to respond.

Australian Defence Force personnel were also on standby with high-clearance vehicles and two ADF helicopters to help with search and rescue.

Twenty-five refuge locations had been established across all southeast councils.

Mr Crisafulli said the government would keep roads and bridges open as long as possible for emergency services.

“As the system continues to move in, my message to Queenslanders is … the best place to be is at home,” he said.

“If you are in a storm tide zone, or in an area where you know there is riverine flooding, you really need to consider and think about your evacuation now.”

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli. Picture: David Clark

Two thousand SES volunteers in the southeast have been bolstered by more than 100 from North Queensland.

“The potential for waves and wind, rainfall and then eventually flooding remains real,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“It is a strong system, and that delayed run into the coast does give people who may not have finished their preparations that little bit more of a window.

“That prospect of a crossing late into Thursday, into Friday, well, that window has been pushed further into Friday, so that gives a little bit more time for those who may need a bit more time to get ready.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said 310,000 sandbags had been delivered to Brisbane, with more coming.

“Sixty ADF personnel and 30 high-clearance vehicles are being pre-positioned … to support police and SES volunteers as we move to the recovery phase,” he said.

“We have activated the Australian Government Disaster Response Plan and crisis co-ordination team, which will operate out of here. I intend to operate out of here for the coming days. It is probably the best place I can be to make sure that there is seamless activity between New South Wales and Queensland.”

Mr Albanese said he would provide additional funding for both Queensland and NSW to aid with recovery from Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

Schools remain closed on Friday. Brisbane Airport closed from 4pm on Thursday.

Originally published as Cyclone Alfred: System performs second pirouette as 24-hour countdown to chaos begins