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Hundreds of thousands of southeast Queensland residents are being warned to prepare for possible damaging winds, high tides, heavy and locally intense rainfall and flash flooding as Tropical Cyclone Alfred bears down the coast.
Alfred is expected to hit as a category two system on Thursday, however, the weather bureau says it’s hard to pinpoint exactly when or where it will cross the coast.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said a “large part” of Queensland’s coast is expected to be impacted.
“[A] tropical cyclone warning is not in place at this stage but it is expected that that will occur within the days ahead and again, I ask Queenslanders in that area to pay particular attention to that,” he told reporters.
“The timing appears to be in the middle part of this week, where that system could cross the coast. What is a little less certain is where.”
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) predicts Cyclone Alfred will first weaken to a category 1, bringing with it heavy wind and rainfall to the southeast including Toowoomba and Brisbane, before strengthening to a category 2 as it drifts towards the coast mid-week.
The BoM says the impact could be felt as far as St George to Gladstone, and parts of northeast New South Wales including Byron Bay, Grafton and Coffs Harbour.
On Wednesday, Cyclone Alfred is expected to bring destructive winds, heavy to intense rain that may lead to life-threatening flash flooding and coastal inundation. The weather conditions will peak on Thursday and Friday.
Crisafulli urged residents in the state’s southeast to do “everything they can”, like gather tinned food and supplies, before it makes landfall.
“There is a real chance of … the cyclone crossing the coast in the southern part of the state,” Mr Crisafulli said.
“This is not a frequent occurrence and there may be Queenslanders who can be forgiven for thinking that this is something that doesn’t occur.
“Well, history shows that it does.”
Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said residents of the capital city should be prepared by cleaning up yards, trimming tree branches and securing loose items.
“While it’s incredibly uncommon, there’s currently a very real threat a significant cyclone could hit southeast Queensland,” he said.
Residents are being told to pay attention to warnings, including evacuation orders.
Earlier on Sunday, the waves reached a record high of 14 metres in waters off Wide Bay, about 280km north of Brisbane.
Mr Crisifulli thanked campers in the region at K’gari, previously known as Fraser Island, who heeded evacuation warnings.
“Some coastal areas are potentially in the firing line and with the prospect of that severe wind warning, coupled with some pretty high tides, there is the real risk of further coastal erosion,” Mr Crisafulli said.
The cyclone was 370km northeast of Bundaberg on Sunday afternoon.
– with additional reporting by AAP
