Authorities in Brisbane say 20,000 properties within the metropolis are prone to inundation by storm surge or flooding as Tropical Cyclone Alfred continues its ominous monitor in direction of the populated south-east Queensland coast.
Up to date monitoring maps on Wednesday morning present Alfred sustaining its depth, pace and certain path to landfall.
It’s nonetheless on monitor to succeed in the shoreline about 1am on Friday someplace between the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane as a category-two storm. The mannequin additionally exhibits Alfred probably crossing simply south of Brisbane.
Excessive tides due within the early hours of Friday are a selected concern for these in waterside communities.
Late on Tuesday Brisbane’s lord mayor, Adrian Schrinner, stated he had been up to date on new modelling that confirmed “20,000 properties across Brisbane could be impacted by storm surge or flooding”.
“These 20,000 properties could experience anything from minor inundation in their yards to significant flooding inside homes.”
I’ve simply been up to date on new modelling forward of Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
The modelling exhibits virtually 20,000 properties throughout Brisbane could possibly be impacted by storm surge or flooding. pic.twitter.com/iWKTiljqxb
— Adrian Schrinner (@bne_lordmayor) March 4, 2025
Brisbane – a metropolis of two.5 million folks – has severely flooded 3 times in 15 years.
Schrinner stated the areas “most at risk” have been beachside communities – together with Nudgee Seaside and Brighton – and low-lying suburbs close to rivers and creeks together with Windsor, Ashgrove, Morningside and Rocklea.
after publication promotion
The Bureau of Meteorology has warned that damaging and harmful winds – a extra uncommon risk for folks in Brisbane – might start on Wednesday. By Thursday afternoon these gusts might attain 155km/h.
Companies are beginning to shut in Brisbane within the 48 hours earlier than Alfred’s predicted crossing but it surely was nonetheless “business as usual” on Wednesday morning for supermarkets, state faculties and different important companies.
There have been lengthy queues for sandbags as residents put together properties for the weird phenomenon of a tropical cyclone in a big metropolis, outdoors of the tropics.
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, is anticipated to affix Queensland authorities at catastrophe planning conferences from Wednesday.
The storm turned again in direction of the coast, as forecast, on Tuesday afternoon, having moved slowly south from the Coral Sea over about two weeks.
“The current forecast has the system intensifying to a high-end category two system prior to landfall on Thursday evening or Friday morning,” the bureau stated on Wednesday.
“The possibility of the system reaching a low-end category three strength before making landfall cannot be ruled out, but remains a low risk.”
The system is transferring about 11km/h because it tracks in direction of the coast.
