Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated, and over 84,000 households are without power as a rare tropical cyclone barrels toward Australia’s eastern coastline.
Cyclone Alfred is expected to make landfall on Saturday morning, striking the stretch between the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast—famous for its stunning beaches and world-class surf—as well as Brisbane, the country’s third-largest city.
The cyclone, the first of its kind to hit the region in 50 years, is predicted to reach land as a category one system, bringing wind speeds of up to 120 km/h. Heavy rainfall has already triggered flooding, which authorities fear will worsen over the weekend. In New South Wales, police reported a man missing after his vehicle was swept into a fast-moving river.
Around four million people across Queensland and northern New South Wales are in the storm’s path. However, Alfred’s slow and erratic movement—described by meteorologists as “walking pace”—has raised serious concerns about flash flooding and rising river levels in low-lying areas. Some regions could see as much as 800mm of rainfall in the coming days.
Communities Brace for Impact
Stephen Valentine, a resident of Logan City south of Brisbane, has stocked up on 30 liters of water and food for his family and pets. He has also set up “protected rooms” away from windows.
“We’ve done everything we can to prepare for something none of us have experienced before,” he said. “We occasionally get the edge of a cyclone, but nothing of this magnitude.”
Queensland is no stranger to cyclones—it’s Australia’s most disaster-prone state—but it’s rare for storms of this strength to travel this far south.
“These are tough times, but Australians are tough and resilient,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Thursday. Gold Coast’s acting mayor, Donna Gates, echoed his concerns, calling Cyclone Alfred a “scary proposition” for the region.
Authorities have taken extensive precautions. Nearly 1,000 schools have been closed, public transport is suspended, and airports have shut down. Flights are not expected to resume until at least Sunday. Elective surgeries have also been canceled.
The last time a cyclone of this scale struck the area was in 1974, when Cyclone Wanda hit in January, followed by Cyclone Zoe two months later. While major cyclones are rare, severe flooding is more common—most recently in 2022, when torrential rain damaged thousands of homes across eastern Australia.
To help residents protect their properties, local councils have set up sandbag distribution centers across the region. Anthony Singh, a resident of Brisbane’s West End, waited four hours on Wednesday to collect sandbags for his home.
“It feels surreal,” he said. “We know it’s coming, but everything is so quiet.”
Mark Clayton, another Brisbane resident, helped distribute over 140 tonnes of sand. “People are worried—will buildings hold up? Will roofs stay on? We’re expecting trees to fall and power outages to last for a while.”
Surfers Take Advantage of the Storm
As most residents prepare to hunker down, some die-hard surfers have taken advantage of the wild conditions.
“This is what we live for,” said Jeff Weatherall, waiting for a jet ski to tow him into the massive waves at Kirra Beach. “This is my fifth day in a row—eat, sleep, surf, repeat.”
Kirra Beach, known for its legendary surf breaks, has drawn thrill-seekers eager to ride the powerful waves.
“There are people who are going to lose their homes, but right now, we’re making the most of it,” said surfer Donnie Neal. “This is just insane surf.”
Despite the excitement, Prime Minister Albanese has urged people to take the cyclone warnings seriously.
“This isn’t the time for sightseeing or experiencing the storm firsthand,” he cautioned. “Please stay safe and use common sense.”
