Why sunny skies could still prove dangerous

Yahoo

07-03-2025

As Tropical Cyclone Alfred slowly makes its way towards the southeastern coast of Queensland, some residents in Noosa have reported seeing clear and sunny skies.
Here's why you should never leave the house during a cyclone, even if things appear clear, and why it could prove to be dangerous.
As category two Cyclone Alfred approaches landfall, it is bringing lashings of rain, blistering wind gusts reaching speeds of up to 155km/h, abnormally high waves up to 10m high and life-threatening flash flooding.
However, in other parts of Queensland where Cyclone Alfred is expected to hit, such as Noosa, some are reporting blue skies.
Why are some seeing blue skies?
A Sky News Weather spokesman told NewsWire it was common for some areas to bear the brunt more than others during a tropical cyclone, as the wind getz pushed from all areas and creates unpredictable skies.
'Cyclone winds go clockwise in the southern hemisphere,' the spokesman said.
As Cyclone Alfred moves to the southeast Queensland coast, it will push southerly winds from inland towards northern regions, including areas of the Sunshine Coast and Noosa.
'If you are north of the system, you are going to be spared the more destructible winds,' the spokesman said.
However, seeing sunny and clear skies before the cyclone hits does not mean you are out of danger.
The spoksperson explained those north of the firing line of the cyclone should still stay inside and seek shelter, even if the skies do not appear to spell disaster, as residents will still 'get strong winds' as the cyclone approaches land.
When can I go outside?
Cyclone Alfred is expected to reach between Noosa and Beenleigh, inland between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, on Saturday.
Residents have been warned they should not go outside until they have been given the all-clear from authorities.
This is because seemingly calm weather conditions could indicate you are actually in the eye of the storm.
While the outside of the cyclone, known as the eyewall, is typically the strongest and most devastating, the eye of a cyclone can be just as dangerous, albeit deceiving.
'As a rule, (during) a period of calm in that area, then the winds will change and become just as fierce,' them Sky News Weather spokesman said.
A risk of erosion
Residents have also been warned to stay away from the beach as blistering winds lead to mass erosion along the coast.
Along the Sunshine Coast, significant winds have caused devastating damage to Dicky Beach, ripping up the sands and revealing a 129-year-old shipwreck of SS Dicky, which was caught in the tip of a cyclone in February 1893.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Premier David Crisafulli said residents should be prepared for the cyclone to hit at various points over the weekend and will expect to see four major challenges, including waves, rain, winds and flooding.
'Queenslanders will experience different impacts from that at different times,' he said.
'We're starting to see some pretty reasonably strong winds, so 100km/h recorded at Coolangatta on the Gold Coast.
'We've had some rainfall totals approaching 120mm at that part of the coast as well.
'Increasingly during the course of the day, people will start to see those wind speeds pick up in places like Brisbane and the Sunny Coast as it gets closer.'
Those who are in the firing line for Cyclone Alfred and see clear, blue skies need to keep up to date with the Bureau of Meteorology, which is sharing updates every hour.
'You need to have access to a radio with batteries, so you can get the most up-to-date information,' Sky News Weather spokesman told NewsWire.