Source: Bureau of Meteorology

Issued at 7:50 pm EST on Thursday 6 March 2025
Headline:

Tropical Cyclone Alfred moving towards the southeast Queensland coast, impacts expected to increase from later this evening.
Areas Affected:
Warning Zone

Double Island Point in Queensland to Grafton in New South Wales, including Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Byron Bay and Ballina but not including Grafton .
Watch Zone

None.
Cancelled Zone

None.
Details of Tropical Cyclone Alfred 22U at 7:00 pm AEST [8:00 pm AEDT]:

Intensity: Category 2, sustained winds near the centre of 95 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 130 kilometres per hour.

Location: within 30 kilometres of 27.2 degrees South 155.3 degrees East, estimated to be 225 kilometres east of Brisbane and 215 kilometres east northeast of Gold Coast.

Movement: west northwest at 6 kilometres per hour.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred is slowly moving towards the southeast Queensland coast.

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 centre of Alfred is expected to cross the coast Friday night or early Saturday morning, most likely between Noosa and Coolangatta.
Hazards:

Gales with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 120 kilometres per hour are developing near the coast between Cape Moreton and Cape Byron. Gales with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 120 kilometres per hour are expected to develop along the remaining southeast Queensland and northeastern New South Wales coastal and island communities between Noosa and Ballina overnight Thursday into Friday morning, possible extending as far south as Grafton and as far north as Double Island Point. These DAMAGING WINDS are forecast to persist during Friday before easing during late Saturday morning.

DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS of up to 155 kilometres per hour may develop about coastal and island locations near, and to the south of, the cyclone centre, as Alfred's destructive core approaches the coast.

A DANGEROUS STORM TIDE is likely along the coastal foreshore for exposed areas between Cape Moreton and Yamba, including the Gold Coast and Byron Bay beaches, ahead of the coastal crossing time on the high tides. Tides are likely to rise significantly above the highest high tide mark with damaging waves and dangerous inundation of coastal low-lying areas.

ABNORMALLY HIGH TIDES are likely to continue causing MINOR FLOODING of coastal low lying areas between Double Island Point and Grafton, particularly during the time of high tides early Friday morning (tonight) and early Saturday morning (Friday night). DAMAGING SURF leading to significant beach erosion remains likely for the open beaches between Double Island Point and Grafton, and further south over the New South Wales coast. Separate Coastal Hazard and Hazardous Surf warnings are current for southeast Queensland and New South Wales coasts.

HEAVY RAINFALL is developing for southeast Queensland and northeastern New South Wales. HEAVY to locally INTENSE RAINFALL which may lead to DANGEROUS AND LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODING may occur near and south of the cyclone centre as Alfred approaches and crosses the coast. Separate Severe Weather Warning and Flood Watches are current for southeast Queensland and northeast New South Wales.

Refer to associated warnings for Queensland and New South Wales at http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/warnings.
Recommended Action:

People between Cape Moreton and Cape Byron, including the Morton Bay Islands should immediately commence or continue preparations, especially securing boats and property.

People between Cape Byron and Grafton in New South Wales, as well as Brisbane and Double Island Point in Queensland should take precautions and listen to the next advice.

- For cyclone preparedness and safety advice, visit the Get Ready Queensland website (www.getready.qld.gov.au)

- If you choose to take shelter away from your home, stay COVID-19 safe and pack a mask and hand sanitiser (if you have them).

- For emergency assistance call the Queensland State Emergency Service or New South Wales State Emergency Service (SES) on 132 500 (for assistance with storm damage, rising flood water, fallen trees on buildings or roof damage).

Current Tropical Cyclones