Cyclone Alfred Batters Australia's Southeast Coast, Forcing Evacuations and Shutdowns

Cyclone Alfred Approaches Australia's Southeast Coast

Residents in the projected path of Cyclone Alfred are urged to take immediate action and evacuate before the situation escalates. The storm, categorized as "extremely rare," is expected to make landfall on Australia's southeastern coast, bringing heavy rainfall, flooding, and destructive winds.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli issued a stark warning, emphasizing the urgency of evacuation. "There is a chance this cyclone will cross in the middle of the night with a high tide. That is not the time to be making your evacuation plan, now is the time," he stated.

In preparation for the storm's impact, Brisbane is shutting down public transportation services, including trains, buses, and ferries, starting Wednesday. Additionally, several sporting events and other gatherings have been cancelled across Queensland and New South Wales (NSW).

As of current reports, Cyclone Alfred is located approximately 325 kilometers east of the Australian mainland, according to the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM). It is moving towards the southeast coast at a speed of 16 kilometers per hour.

Experts have expressed concern that Alfred could slow down to 11 kilometers per hour, which would significantly worsen the situation. Thomas Hinterdorfer of Higgins Storm Chasing described this scenario as the "worst case scenario" in an interview with The Courier-Mail.

The storm is anticipated to make landfall on Thursday or Friday north of Fraser Island, bringing over half a meter of rain, widespread flooding, and destructive winds.

Cyclone Alfred marks the first direct impact of a cyclone on the region since Cyclone Nancy in 1990. Residents are advised to remain vigilant and follow official instructions to ensure their safety.