By admin 
Tropical Cyclone Alfred is expected to shift toward densely populated areas in southeast Queensland this week, prompting warnings for more than four million residents from Bundaberg to the Gold Coast. Authorities have urged communities to prepare for potential coastal erosion, flash flooding, and destructive winds.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli emphasized the storm’s severity on Sunday, cautioning that the system could bring dangerous conditions as it approaches land. Some coastal areas have already experienced massive 14-meter waves, with Alfred lingering offshore and moving slowly southeast.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, Alfred is “likely” to change direction on Tuesday, turning westward and possibly making landfall on Thursday. However, uncertainty remains about where the cyclone will cross, with a potential impact zone spanning a 450km stretch of coastline.
“This is a large system and presents a big challenge for a large part of the Queensland coastline,” Crisafulli said. “Some coastal areas are potentially in the firing line.”
Forecasts suggest that Alfred could make landfall as a Category 2 cyclone, bringing intense rainfall between 300mm and 600mm over several days, along with damaging winds and coastal inundation. Meteorologist Matthew Callopy noted that the storm’s heaviest rainfall is expected at its southern edge, wherever it crosses the coast.
Historical comparisons have been drawn to previous cyclones that affected the region, including Cyclone Wanda in 1974, which triggered Brisbane’s devastating floods, and Cyclone Debbie in 2017. While tropical cyclones typically make landfall north of the Tropic of Capricorn, authorities are taking precautions given the possibility of a direct hit in the southeast.
Emergency preparations are underway, including coordination with telecommunications providers to ensure clear messaging and the deployment of emergency crews.
As of Sunday, Alfred was about 500km east of Rockhampton, with warnings issued for strong gale-force winds on K’gari and dangerous coastal conditions in southern Queensland and northern New South Wales. High tides and a powerful easterly swell are expected to impact beaches from Monday.
Authorities continue to urge residents to stay informed and take necessary precautions as the cyclone’s path becomes clearer in the coming days.
Gill Bikram Singh