Cyclone Alfred latest: Rare Category 2 storm nears Australian coast as millions face ‘worst-case scenario'
People on the projected path of Cyclone Alfred have been asked to "act now" and leave before the situation gets worse as the Category 2 storm barrels towards Australia 's southeastern coast.
Alfred is now about 345km east of Brisbane and 315km east of the Gold Coast, according to the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM). It is moving towards the southeast Queensland coast at 16kph.
There's a concern that Alfred could slow down to 11kph, which could make it 'worst case scenario', Higgins Storm Chasing's Thomas Hinterdorfer told The Courier-Mail.
The storm is expected to make landfall on Thursday or Friday between north of Brisbane bringing more than half a metre of rain, flooding and destructive winds.
Alfred is the first cyclone to directly impact Brisbane since Nancy in 1990.
'We're dealing with a very heavily populated part of the state, a state that hasn't seen a cyclone for many years, in fact, many decades, get this close to the coast,' Queensland premier David Crisafulli said.
Cyclone Alfred path and forecast
A new map from Australia's Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) shows Cyclone Alfred is now about 345km east of Brisbane and 315km east of the Gold Coast.
It is moving towards the southeast Queensland coast at a speed of 16kph.
Alfred is a category 2 cyclone, and is forecast to maintain this intensity as it approaches the southeast Queensland coast on Thursday.
Alfred is expected to cross the coast early Friday morning, most likely between Maroochydore and Coolangatta, according to the BoM.
Stuti Mishra5 March 2025 04:12
'By tomorrow, it will be too late'
Officials are asking people to "act now" and leave before the situation gets worse.
Tropical Cyclone Alfred is "not just a rain event" but "multiple wind events," warned Mike Wassing, commissioner of the New South Wales State Emergency Service.
"If you're living directly on the coast and you know where your high tide is, you will see water potentially half a metre above that high tide mark," the NSW SES commissioner says.
"You will potentially and very likely have winds impacting your location in excess of 100kmph. If you do not feel safe in that location now is the time to relocate."
Stuti Mishra5 March 2025 03:25
Evacuation ordered as cyclone swirls towards Brisbane
Australia's east coast is bracing for a tropical cyclone that is swirling towards Brisbane, the country's third-most populous city.
Authorities warned thousands of properties were at risk due to strong winds and flash flooding.
"If you're told to leave, you should leave. I can't be more blunt than that," Queensland premier David Crisafulli told ABC News, calling on residents to heed evacuation orders.
Destructive wind gusts of up to 155kph (96 mph) are expected to develop from Thursday afternoon as tropical cyclone Alfred is expected to cross the coast as a category-two storm early on Friday morning near Queensland state capital Brisbane, Australia's weather bureau said.
Shweta Sharma5 March 2025 03:04
Cruise ships change course as Cyclone Alfred looms
Cunard's Queen Anne, which left Sydney on 1 March for her 2025 inaugural world cruise, skipped Brisbane and sailed directly to Airlie Beach, and arrived on Tuesday.
She will continue as planned to Cairns on 6 March and spend an extra night in Darwin on 10 March before proceeding to Indonesia.
Norwegian Cruise Line have also cancelled stops on the way to Cairns, so that their ships will now sail directly.
Steffie Banatvala5 March 2025 02:30
Cyclone disrupts several Australian sporting events
Cyclone Alfred has led to the cancellation of a golf event and prompted the Australian Football League (AFL) to postpone season-opening matches.
Golf officials called off the Ladies European Tour co-sanctioned WPGA Championship event on the Gold Coast amid forecasts for extreme wind and flooding.
The AFL, the top flight of Australian Rules football, has postponed two matches in southern Queensland, including Thursday's season-opener in Brisbane between the reigning champion Brisbane Lions and Geelong Cats.
Soccer governing body Football Queensland suspended all training and games in the state's southeast on Wednesday.
Other sporting events were called off, including national championships of touch football in New South Wales.
Steffie Banatvala5 March 2025 01:30
Intense rain and life-threatening flash-flooding: latest warning
Cyclone Alfred could bring intense rainfall and life-threatening flash-flooding to the southeast of Queensland state and the northeast of New South Wales state, the Bureau of Meteorology said in its latest update.
Steffie Banatvala5 March 2025 00:30
Thousands flee homes as Alfred changes its course
Thousands of Queensland residents have fled their homes as Cyclone Alfred intensified to a category two system.
Alfred changed its course towards the south-east Queensland coast.
The tropical cyclone is due to make landfall north of the city late Thursday or early Friday.
It's predicted to bring major flooding, rain and destructive winds of up to 130kmh.
Steffie Banatvala4 March 2025 23:30
Explained: how to read tropical cyclone warning maps
Steffie Banatvala4 March 2025 22:30
Mapped: Cyclone Alfred's path
Steffie Banatvala4 March 2025 21:31
Cyclones caused by warm sea temperatures and weak wind shear: experts
Meteorologists point to warm sea surface temperatures and weak wind shear as contributing factors to stronger storms in recent years.
Both of these may be linked to La Nina weather phenomenon, AccuWeather Lead International Expert Jason Nicholls explained.
A marine heat wave near Western Australia has lasted since September 2024, with unusually high sea surface temperatures in late February.
The Australian Bureau of Meteorology predicted more severe tropical cyclones in the South Pacific this season as oceans were warmer than expected.
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Daily Mail
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- Daily Mail
Brutal polar blast hits Australia: How cold it will get in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and more
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'But the wet weather associated with the low that's been driving this won't be too common through southeastern parts. 'Just some isolated showers through parts of Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia. 'Well over in the west, we'll see a cold front move through southwestern parts of WA, and high pressure continues to dominate the rest of the country.' Rainfall in May was below average in southern WA, most of SA and Victoria, northern and western Tasmania, western NSW, areas surrounding Queensland's Gulf of Carpentaria, and the Northern Territory. Some light rainfall is expected to bring some relief to the drought-stricken Eyre Peninsula from Thursday. Weatherzone meteorologist Anthony Sharwood said snow in alpine regions across NSW and Victoria fell 'in two waves' as a polar blast hit over the long weekend. 'A cold front that passed through southeastern Australia on Saturday delivered the first batch from the west, with a low pressure system then feeding more moisture onshore,' he said. The fall was good news for skiing fans with the system creating a solid base at several resorts. 'When the clouds clear and the freshly fallen snow compacts, expect a natural snow base of around 50cm on the higher slopes, with numerous lift openings imminent,' Mr Sharwood said. Two hikers, a 31-year-old man and 28-year-old woman, were trapped by the snow near Mt Kosciuszko on Saturday. 'Due to the weather, including low visibility, a helicopter was unable to reach the pair,' NSW Police said. 'Officers from the Alpine Operations Unit hiked into the location and reached the man and woman at about 10.40pm.' The pair were taken to a staging post campsite until they were finally extracted about 4am Sunday, both uninjured. Dozens of motorists had to be rescued across NSW and Victoria due to icy road conditions. The biggest operation was at Mount Hotham in Victoria's High Country after 19 people became trapped in their cars during a snow storm. Six people remained trapped in their vehicles on the Blue Rag Range Track near Dargo High Plains on Monday morning. They were pulled from their cars later that day. Authorities warned motorists not to underestimate the impact of snow and ice on the roads. Wintry temperatures in Sydney this week are set to be accompanied by grey skies and showers 'Please ensure your vehicle is roadworthy and well equipped with extra supplies should you become stranded in snowy conditions, as help can often be a long way away,' NSW Police said. 'Carry chains and fit them when directed. 'It is a good idea to practice fitting chains before entering the area as trying to fit them in blizzard conditions is not a good place to be learning this activity.' Snow could fall as low as 1,200m in Australia's southeast on Tuesday. Sydney Wednesday: Mostly sunny. Winds west to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light in the late afternoon. Min 9. Max 18. Thursday: Mostly sunny morning. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon and evening. Light winds becoming west to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning then tending south to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h during the day. Min 8. Max 16. Friday: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers. Winds southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h. Min 9. Max 16. Melbourne Wednesday: Partly cloudy. The chance of morning fog. Slight chance of a shower, most likely in the late morning and afternoon. Light winds. Min 6. Max 14. Thursday: Partly cloudy. Areas of frost and the chance of fog about the nearby hills in the morning. Slight chance of a shower. Light winds. Min 5. Max 13. Friday: Partly cloudy. Areas of morning frost about the nearby hills. Slight chance of a shower. Light winds. Min 5. Max 13. Brisbane Wednesday: Sunny. Winds westerly 20 to 30 km/h becoming light in the evening. Min 9. Max 19. 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The Guardian
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Wintery long weekend to deliver snowy start to Australia's ski season
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Time Out
04-06-2025
- Time Out
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Reporting live from Sydney, I can confirm that winter is well and truly here. The actual temperature currently reads a drizzly 12 degrees, but my weather app says it 'feels like' a frosty four – which justifies me busting out my puffer jacket for its seasonal debut. But while the chill is real, it's not all snowflakes and rainbows – especially for Australia's ski fields. The past two winters have been incredibly disappointing for snow enthusiasts, with warm temperatures delaying the start of the season and rainy weather forcing Australia's top ski resorts to shut early. In fact, 2023 and 2024 were the hottest Aussie winters in history – and with more above-average temperatures on the horizon, things aren't looking good for our ski fields. What to expect for Australia's 2025 snow season? The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has forecast unusually high daytime temperatures across southern and eastern Australia, right where our ski fields sit. David Karoly, Professor Emeritus at the University of Melbourne and Councillor at Climate Council of Australia, says, 'We can also expect warmer-than-average nights, which makes it hard for snow to form and settle. It also means fewer nights with good conditions for snow-making overnight.' While the BoM predicts rainfall will return to normal following droughts in southeastern Australia, above-average temperatures could see precipitation in the mountains fall as rain, not snow, melting the existing snow base faster or washing it away entirely. Professor Karoly warns that this trend will continue in the years to come, "We have had declines of maximum snow depth and decreasing season length at Australian ski resorts reported for over 30 years… The declines are greatest at lower elevation resorts and on lower elevation slopes, where the temperatures are higher and the melting is faster.' Can artificial snow save Australia's ski industry? Australia's ski fields have become increasingly reliant on machine-made snow, with all Aussie ski resorts except Mount Stirling currently using some level of snowmaking to improve the quality and length of the season. While it's a temporary fix, experts warn artificial snow is not a sustainable solution – for two main reasons. Firstly, the climatic conditions required to produce the snow are becoming less reliable due to climate change. Artificial snow only works when it's cold enough that the snow doesn't melt, when there's enough humidity in the air and when there's lots of water – something that's becoming increasingly scarce in the southern Alps. On top of that, there are significant water and electricity costs associated with snowmaking. For perspective, covering the equivalent of an AFL stadium would require 1 million litres of water, with billions invested in machine-made snow across the country. Are Australia's ski resorts at risk of closing for good? The sad reality is that Australia's ski resorts won't be economically viable if they depend on natural snowfall alone. Dr Lily O'Neill, Director of Protect Our Winters Australia, explains, 'Future generations of Australians will know skiing, but not to the same extent as we do today. The more we get on with cutting climate pollution, largely by continuing to move away from the burning of fossil fuels like coal and gas, the better chance future generations will have at experiencing skiing here at home.' What will Australia's snow seasons look like in 2050? According to Our Changing Snowscapes – an Australian-first report exploring climate change's impacts on the Australian Alps – there may be no reliable ski areas left in Australia by 2050. Ski seasons are forecast to shrink by between 44 and 55 days (42 to 52 per cent), and the amount of machine-made snow needed to sustain a 100-day ski season (the minimum days for a ski field to remain viable) is predicted to increase by 71 to 98 per cent in the 2050s. However, we're not giving up all hope just yet. Dr O'Neill adds, 'Enjoying ski seasons later into this century should still be possible if the Albanese government takes action to keep us in a low emissions scenario, particularly for higher-altitude resorts, like Hotham and Thredbo.' Those that are at lower altitudes are particularly vulnerable and already feeling the impacts of climate pollution, and planned adaptation needs to start happening now in these communities.' Dr O'Neill is also calling for more year-round investment to help ski resorts diversify beyond snow activities. Professor Karoly agrees, 'Tourism operators may be able to adapt by switching to promoting other activities in spring and summer, such as mountain walking, horse riding and trail biking.' You can see what's in store for Australia's snow seasons and what's needed to protect them by reading the full report here.
