At least 15,000 people were told to leave their homes as Tropical Cyclone Alfred approached Australia’s eastern coast. Many more were left without power, and flood rescues began as the storm neared. This cyclone is set to be the first one to hit the area in decades.
Alfred was expected to arrive near Brisbane, Queensland’s capital, home to around 2.7 million people. On Friday afternoon, it was about 80 miles offshore, already causing high tides and flooding.
In New South Wales, officials reported that around 29,000 homes were at risk of flooding. Evacuation orders were in place for about 15,000 residents. Many were also without electricity—38,000 in New South Wales and 46,000 in Queensland.
The storm was moving slowly west at just 5 miles per hour, which could worsen conditions for coastal communities. Areas like Lismore, which faced severe flooding in 2022, were especially vulnerable.
By Friday, Alfred had already begun impacting the coast with winds reaching up to 75 miles per hour. Forecasters predicted dangerous flash floods even before the storm officially made landfall. This cyclone would be the first to strike southeastern Queensland since 1974, according to meteorologists.
Leading up to the storm, hundreds of schools and several airports were closed. Public transportation was halted in southern Queensland and northern New South Wales. Grocery store shelves quickly emptied as people prepared for the cyclone, which had shifted from its original path to head toward land.
Ironically, despite warnings, many surfers flocked to the coast to enjoy the large waves generated by the cyclone. Crowds gathered to watch as they rode the powerful swells.
In response to the impending disaster, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that he would authorize federal emergency funds to assist with recovery efforts in Queensland and New South Wales once the storm passed.
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Source linkFloods,Australia,Brisbane (Australia),New South Wales (Australia),Queensland (Australia),Cyclones,Weather
