Tropical Cyclone Alfred strengthens to Cat 2 off Qld coast

Tropical Cyclone Alfred has intensified to a Category 2 system.

Latest track map for Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred has strengthend into a Category 2 system in the Coral Sea.

Meteorologists at the Bureau of Meteorology said they expected TC Alfred to intensify to a category two system by Monday, potentially reach category three status by Tuesday.

At 4pm on Monday afternoon, TC Alfred was located over the Coral Sea about 530km northeast of Willis Island and 960km northeast of Mackay.

The cyclone is slow moving.

“Tropical Cyclone Alfred developed in the Coral Sea on Sunday afternoon,” meteorologist Angus Hines said.

“It was given its name shortly before 5pm on Sunday and since then Alfred has moved very slowly eastwards,” he said.

A satellite image of Tropical Cyclone Alfred on Monday.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred is strengthening as it moves slowly eastwards in the

Coral Sea, well offshore of the North Queensland coast.

On Tuesday, the cyclone is forecast to turn southeast and then south while

continuing to intensify through to the middle of the week.

Forecasterds at the Bureau of Meteorology are confident that it will remain well off the Queensland coast until at least late in the week.

Beyond that, the track becomes highly uncertain.

There is a risk it will move closer to the central Queensland coast over the weekend.

The next update will be issued by 11pm on Monday evening.

Originally published as Tropical Cyclone Alfred strengthens to Cat 2 off Qld coast