Photo: Qld Police
Tropical Cyclone Alfred is expected to make a U-turn tomorrow as it strengthens and heads for Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.
The Bureau of Meteorology’s Sarah Scully says it is likely to cross the south-east coast late Thursday night or early Friday morning as a category 2 or even category 1 system.
“The effects of Alfred will be felt widespread and not just near the actual crossing point,” she says.
“In fact, the greatest impacts are expected on the southern flank of the cyclone.”
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Those impacts include destructive winds, falling trees and powerlines, property damage, major power blackouts, heavy to intense rainfall and flash flooding.
“As well, the tropical cyclone’s likely to create a very large storm surge which increases the risk of coastal inundation and does make it difficult for the water to escape from river systems,” Scully says.
“As we move from Friday and Alfred moves further inland, we’re expecting it to be downgraded to a tropical low. However, the rain and flooding are expected to continue throughout Friday and potentially into the weekend.”
Scully says the rain and wind will start to build in intensity during Wednesday, continue during Thursday and peak on Friday and possibly into Saturday.
“We have potential for daily rainfall totals between 200m-400m so we have current flood watches across South-East Queensland and north-east NSW for potential minor to major flooding.”
A tropical cyclone watch has already been declared for coastal areas from K’garri island down to near Grafton in northern NSW.
“Gale force winds from Wednesday afternoon will gust more than to 90kmh,” she says.
TODAY’S MOVEMENTS
Scully says Alfred is currently a category 1 in the Coral Sea, 475km north-east of Brisbane and heading south-east today.
Its strong winds will create powerful swells with a coastal hazard warning ranging from Sandy Cape to Coolangatta for very high tides and damaging surf with the risk of flooding and coastal erosion.
