Brisbane: Residents along Australia's eastern coastline are bracing for the impending arrival of a slow-moving storm, which represents the southernmost tropical cyclone to pose a threat to the region in over half a century.
As reported by Brisbane Times, the Bureau of Meteorology has updated the cyclone's projected landfall to 7am (local time) on Saturday. Cyclone Alfred has slowed to a speed of 6 kilometers per hour and has maintained its distance from the shore since 5pm.
The storm is expected to reach the intensity of a category 1 Atlantic hurricane as it progresses westward towards Brisbane, a city with a population of 2.5 million, along with its neighboring coastal suburbs.
CNN reports that Alfred is endangering an area that typically does not experience cyclones, as these weather systems usually develop much further north over warmer tropical waters. The postponement of the storm's arrival has allowed officials additional time to issue warnings. According to the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), as of Thursday, Cyclone Alfred was situated approximately 245 kilometers (152 miles) offshore, advancing westward with destructive winds reaching around 100 kilometers per hour.
In response to the storm, schools, public transport, major roadways, and airports have been closed, and elective surgeries have been postponed, although emergency departments remain operational, as noted by Brisbane Times.
Reports indicate that the cyclone has already generated dangerous waves along the coastline, including a record-breaking wave of 12.3 meters on the Gold Coast, a well-known tourist destination south of Brisbane. In northern New South Wales (NSW), around 4,000 homes were reported to be without power on Thursday due to fallen power lines. Heavy rainfall has been observed in certain areas, and river flooding is already posing a risk to low-lying communities.
Authorities have alerted millions of residents in the storm's trajectory to brace for potentially damaging wind gusts, flash flooding, and storm surges that could coincide with elevated tides. Flood watches have been issued along the coastline, where anticipated rainfall ranges from 200 to 400 millimeters, with isolated areas possibly receiving close to 500 millimeters.
"There are waves, wind, rainfall, and flooding ahead, but these challenges are manageable, and I have complete confidence in the preparations that have been made thus far," stated Queensland Premier David Crisafulli, highlighting the four primary challenges during a warning issued late Thursday.
