Cyclone Alfred live updates: What you need to know

Frightening footage of huge swells created by Cyclone Alfred has emerged, showing an Aussie being cut off from the beach as a storm surge rolled in.

The video was shot on Wednesday at Elephant Rock by Ashton Marsh, next to Currumbin Beach Vikings Surf Life Saving Club, south of the Gold Coast.

The huge swell washed in between the lookout, the life-saving club and the shore, engulfing the club’s carpark and covering some of the road.

‘Cyclone Alfred has trapped us and destroyed the road at Currumbin Beach,’ Marsh wrote.

In a statement, Queensland Police said the group were safely removed from the lookout.

Viewers criticised the group, claiming they should not have been at the lookout ahead of the cyclone.

‘Why would you be standing on Elephant Rock in these conditions,’ one said.

‘What are you doing there? Isn’t surf club closed? How are you getting off now, so dangerous,’ a second added.

‘No one has sympathy because that is a public lookout ON A ROCK that was 100 per cent preventable if they didn’t want to go sightseeing,’ another said.

Meanwhile, at the same beach, a group of onlookers who gathered for a close-up view of the raging surf had a close call when a massive wave crashed over them, nearly pulling them into the ocean.

Earlier, vehicles were seen being swept away from a carpark in the same area.

As the cyclone approaches, massive swells are battering the eastern seaboard from Queensland’s Sunshine Coast down to Coffs Harbour on the NSW mid-north coast.

The road after the storm surge (above)

The road before the storm surge (above)

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli warns the modelling shows the cyclone will cross very early Saturday morning as a category two.

It is about 245km east of Brisbane and it is moving west at 10km/hr.

Public transport and roads

• Public transport now suspended in Queensland today and tomorrow
• Roads and bridges to remain open for key workers as long as possible
• Elective surgeries suspended, but hospitals remain open for emergency

• Gale-force winds have caused power outages in SE Queensland.
• Crews on standby 24/7, and residents should prepare for more outages

• Woolworths: Many Gold Coast stores closing from 2pm Thursday, remaining closed Friday
• Coles: Operating with fewer staff, some stores in SE Queensland and northern NSW closed
• Aldi: Gold Coast stores closed from 5pm Wednesday until Saturday

• Aussies urged check yards for loose items that could become projectiles
• Prepare valuable items in case of evacuation
• 25 refuge locations open, but staying with friends or family is recommended
• Up to 700mm of rainfall could cut off major roads and isolate communities

Check if you are living in a storm tide area

If the cyclone reaches the coast at high tide, there is a real danger of flooding in storm tide areas, warns Mr Crisafulli.

‘The second flooding is flash flooding and river flooding,’ he said.

‘Many Queenslanders in the south-east are aware of this, they have experience in this and have handled it very well over the years.

‘It’s important that you develop your plan now if you are in one of these zones.’

Storm surge is an abnormal rise in sea level over and above the normal (astronomical) tide levels. It can be thought of as the change in the water level due to the presence of a storm. These powerful ocean movements are caused by strong winds piling water up against the coast as a cyclone approaches.

Storm tide is the water level that results from the combination of the storm surge and the normal (astronomical) tide. A 3 metre storm surge on top of a high tide that is 2 metres above the mean sea level will produce a storm tide that is 5 metres above mean sea level.

Storm tides can swamp low-lying areas, sometimes for kilometres inland. Strong winds at the coast can also create large waves, worsening the impact.

Qantas, Jetstar, and Virgin Australia will suspend all flights to and from Brisbane Airport from 4.00pm today as Cyclone Alfred intensifies.

Qantas also warned that additional cancellations could impact flights across southeast Queensland and northern NSW as the cyclone progresses.

Disruptions to flights began on Wednesday with Gold Coast and Ballina airports closing.

‘We are working to get people in and out of Brisbane as safely and as quickly as possible and continue to work closely with the state and federal government and the relevant local airport authorities,’ a Qantas spokesperson said.

‘Customers can regularly check the Qantas app, Qantas.com and Jetstar.com, and their email and SMS channels, as we will update them directly or via their travel agent.

‘We realise that this is a challenging time for many of our customers and are offering additional flexibility including travel credits and fee free date changes to those who have booked flights to or from the impacted areas.’

Anxious residents in the cyclone’s firing line have been assured that insurers will process claims as fast as possible.

‘I’m confident that the insurance companies know what they need to do, I’m confident that they’re putting in place the arrangements to process lots of claims,’ Treasurer Jim Chalmers told ABC radio on Thursday.

‘I’ll obviously stay in pretty frequent contact with the CEOs to make sure that’s the case,’ he added.

The category-two cyclone is expected to cause billions of dollars in damage when it makes landfall on the southeast Queensland coast, bringing extreme winds, heavy rain, flash flooding and storm surges.

Insurance companies went under the microscope following the 2022 floods, with a federal parliamentary inquiry concluding the industry ‘failed too many people’ with delays in communication, poor claim management and other issues uncovered.

Insurers have claimed they are ready to support customers as Cyclone Alfred draws nearer, now expected to arrive between Friday evening and Saturday morning.

Suncorp chief executive officer Steve Johnston said some delays could be expected given the high volume of calls.

‘Once a claim has been lodged, our team can coordinate emergency repairs as soon as it’s safe,’ he said in a statement.

Insurance companies are urging residents to tie down loose furniture, clear gutters and remove overhanging tree branches to minimise damage.

A new radar image shows how close Cyclone Alfred will come to the Queensland coast overnight.

The latest update at 12pm AEDT showed the category-two cyclone was 245km east of Brisbane, moving west at 10km/h.

Despite earlier stating the storm would cross near Byron Bay, the Bureau of Meteorology’s forecast has reverted back to the system making landfall between Noosa and Coolangatta.

‘Tropical Cyclone Alfred has been oscillating offshore of the southeast Queensland coast. Alfred’s approach to the southeast Queensland coast has slowed,’ the bureau said.

The cyclone is tipped to maintain its intensity until its eye ‘starts to interact’ with the coast and islands.

Damaging winds and flooding caused by abnormally high tides are set to affect coastal areas from Friday morning.

PICTURED: Forecast for Cyclone Alfred at 12am on Friday

Queenslanders in storm-tide zones are responding to a warning from Anthony Albanese and Premier David Crisafulli to prepare as Alfred slowly approaches the coast.

North Burleigh Surf Life Saving Club on the Gold Coast, roughly 14km from Surfers Paradise, has shared images of how members are protecting their building for what could be the worst weather in 50 years.

‘We have prepped with taping windows, sandbagging, securing trailers, and making sure our equipment is protected and ready for Cyclone Alfred’s arrival,’ they said.

During a briefing this morning, Jane Golding from the bureau said sea levels have already risen, causing river catchments to rise.

Cyclone Alfred due to be the first to hit southeast Queensland in over 50 years, the experts are here to tell Australians what they should and should not do.

The system is expected to make landfall on Friday evening or Saturday morning (local time).

A warning zone stretching 650km remains in place from Double Island Point in Queensland to Grafton in northern NSW.

Daniel Shaw, a Sydney-based storm chaser for more than 25 years, makes annual trips out to deadly ‘Tornado Alley’ during peak season in the US and is setting off later today to follow Cyclone Alfred.

‘Storms can be beautiful but have an ugly side,’ he told Daily Mail Australia.

‘Cyclones are prolonged events that test the resilience of all.’

Echoing the words Australians have heard from the Prime Minister, state politicians and emergency services, Shaw said ‘preparation is key’.

This includes following government advice, organising first aid kits, food supplies, water and securing loose items.

‘If everything is done right, it will already be done,’ he said.

It is also the time to help others and to check whether neighbours need anything.

6-12 hours before landfall

Cyclone Alfred has slowed over warm water off Australia’s coast, increasing the chance of it strengthening to a category three system.

The Bureau flagged that there is always some uncertainty associated with tropical cyclone forecasting and that because of this, indicated winds will almost certainly extend to regions outside the rings on weather maps.

‘This is a time for bunkering down and watching for updated forecasts,’ Shaw said.

‘The system is still throwing a couple of changes… because all weather systems can be unpredictable.’

The best advice Shaw could give for Australians is to stay indoors, away from any debris such as falling trees, flooding and fallen power lines.

‘Assume all power is live until proven otherwise by an energy authority,’ he said.

Almost 200 swift water-rescue personnel are on standby along with 1,000 energy crew staff as of Thursday.

Anthony Albanese announced on Wednesday the Australian Defence Force assistance would be deployed with helicopters sent to Bundaberg and Coffs Harbour.

‘Whilst there is a want and need to help others, unless you are trained to look for hidden dangers, wait patiently and know when to call for help before risking yourself,’ Shaw said.

The movie captured the imagination of audiences across the world but Shaw’s reality is a lot more serious, and terrifying.

‘This is not a Hollywood movie we are talking about, movies don’t typically show you the aftermath when you are making funeral plans,’ he said.

‘No video or photo is worth losing your life over.’

Shaw’s career grew from a passion for weather and he acknowledges there is a natural curiosity to see and experience storms.

But he is quick to make the point that he has taken extensive training in medical assistance and first aid should the worst happen to those nearby.

‘A professional storm chaser knows when to run, we’re just good at timing it to a second,’ he said.

Australians need to ‘slow down’ when they emerge after the storm.

‘Take into account debris, dangers that may exist after the event,’ Mr Shaw said.

The best approach is working ‘slowly and methodically’ to assess any damage that might be nearby and knowing when to call emergency services if they are needed.

Cyclone Alfred’s slower tracking will bring an increase in wind and rain across the 650km warning zone stretching from the Sunshine Coast’s Double Island Point to Grafton in the NSW Northern Rivers region.

Gales over 90km/h are predicted to hit the zone, ABC meteorologist Tom Saunders warned.

‘Winds of this strength can topple trees and even cause minor house damage,’ he said.

Mr Saunders predicted gusts may exceed 125km/h near the border between Queensland and NSW when the cyclone reaches about 100km off the coast this evening.

‘Rain may become torrential through today,’ he said, adding that it remains dependent on the category-two system’s proximity to the coast.

Supermarkets in southeast Queensland are set to close today ahead of Cyclone Alfred’s landfall.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed residents in the cyclone’s path wouldn’t be able to go to the shops in a few hours’ time.

‘Queensland supermarkets in affected areas will close from today,’ Mr Albanese said on Thursday morning.

Supermarkets have been stripped of bottled water, toilet paper, bread, milk, eggs and other necessities ahead of Alfred’s arrival

On the Gold Coast, a large number of Woolworths stores will stop trading from 2pm on Thursday and will be closed on Friday.

Coles stores will run on fewer staff and the supermarket has closed some stores in southeast Queensland and northern NSW.

Aldi supermarkets closed stores in the City of Gold Coast LGA from 5pm on Wednesday until Saturday.

Stores in the NSW Northern Rivers are closed until Saturday while branches in Brisbane, Redlands City, Ipswich, Logan, Moreton Bay and Sunshine Coast LGAs will close at 2pm on Thursday until Saturday.

Bunnings will continue to operate, allowing people to stock up on items to protect their homes from wind and rain damage.

However, a spokesperson said some stores may need to close temporarily if it became unsafe to operate, with updates posted to the company’s website.

Bottle shops like Liquorland, Vintage Cellars, Dan Murphy’s and BWS are open in southeast Queensland including Brisbane, but Dan Murphy’s and BWS stores are closed on the Gold Coast.

Coles supermarket closures

• Coles Petrie Terrace, Brisbane
• Coles Loganholme
• Coles Runaway Bay, Gold Coast
• Coles Benowa Village, Gold Coast
• Coles Arundel, Gold Coast
• Coles Pacific Fair, Gold Coast
• Coles The Pines, Gold Coast
• Coles Robina, Gold Coast

• Coles Ballina
• Coles Tweed City
• Coles Casuarina
• Coles Tweed Heads
• Coles Murwillumbah
• Coles Goonellabah
• Coles Banora point
• Coles Ocean shores

Coles at Lismore, Casino and Alstonville are all open today.

Woolworths has announced it will close several stores in cyclone-affected areas from today.

‘Following weather warnings, and to keep our customers and our team safe, Woolworths stores in the cyclone warning zone may begin closing early today,’ a spokesperson said.

‘We aim to keep our stores open as long as possible, however our store teams will adjust their hours according to safety, advice from local authorities and team member availability.

‘We ask customers to please check the latest operating hours for their local store on the Woolworths website, which will be regularly updated.’

Signs posted in some Woolworths stores advised they would close from 2pm AEST.

The SES has fresh supplies of sandbags ready for residents in cyclone affected areas after running out on Wednesday.

Sandbags have been in high demand as Alfred inches closer to the east coast.

Anxious locals have been lining up at sandbag collection points amid warnings of life-threatening of flash floods in the coming days.

‘We had some locations yesterday that ran out of sandbags, that’s been restocked and we will continue to work with those local communities,’ NSW SES Commissioner Michael Wassing said.

‘We’ve got 400,000 sandbags available, they continue to be restocked into those locations.’

The Bureau of Meteorology revealed Cape Byron is likely to be closest to the eye of Tropical Cyclone Alfred as it makes landfall.

Cape Byron, about 3km east of tourist hotspot Byron Bay, sits below the cyclone’s initial predicted crossing point between the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast.

Jane Golding from the Bureau warned the cyclone’s delayed crossing, which is now expected late Friday or early Saturday, will result in three days of increased rain.

She said sea levels have already risen, causing river catchments to rise.

Senior meteorologist Andrea Pearce told the ABC the category-two system is now forecast to cross the coast later on Friday or early on Saturday morning.

‘Regardless of the timing of landfall, significant impacts are expected well before crossing,’ she said.

‘A slowing down of the system allows for more time for dangerous and damaging waves to cause further coastal erosion and inundation of low-lying areas along the foreshore over the coming days.’

Over 200mm of rain fell in northern NSW in the 24 hours leading up to 9am Thursday.

‘Dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding remains possible, and we could see rivers begin to rise to major flood levels from Friday,’ the bureau said.

Anthony Albanese has warned that the delayed timing of the cyclone’s landfall to Friday evening and possibly as late as Saturday morning is not a good sign.

‘It is still anticipated this will… reach landfall, it will just do it later,’ he said.

‘And a risk of course is that slowing up, it increases in intensity.

‘We expect three separate hazards – storm surges and high tides along coastal communities and severe winds as Alfred approaches the coast.

‘Then rainfall, and potential flash and riverine flooding right into the weekend.’

The PM addded Queensland supermarkets will close today in the cyclone zone.

‘Queensland supermarkets in affected areas will close from today,’ Mr Albanese said.

He refused to say if he will call the federal election this weekend as expected.

Mr Albanese said recovery grants will be made available for impacted communities.

In Brisbane alone, 20,000 homes are at risk of flooding, with an additional 6,000 homes at risk on the Gold Coast, local council modelling shows.

The suburbs of Brighton, Windsor, Ashgrove, Morningside, Rocklea, Coopers Plains, Carina, Sandgate, Hemmant, Lota, Tingalpa, Indooroopilly, Albion, Bardon and Wynnum West are most at risk.

On the Gold Coast, the suburbs most at risk from are Surfers Paradise, Paradise Point and Elanora.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner urged residents in these areas to evacuate.

‘These 20,000 properties could experience anything from minor inundation in their yards to significant flooding inside homes,’ he said.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred is on track to make landfall late Friday or possibly Saturday, bringing winds of 120km/h, up to 700mm of rain, and flooding.

It is the first tropical cyclone to hit southeast Queensland and northern NSW in more than 50 years.

A warning zone stretching 650km remains in place from Double Island Point in Queensland to Grafton in northern NSW.

The zone includes Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Byron Bay and Ballina, but doesn’t include Grafton.

At 9am (AEDT) on Thursday, the cyclone was 285km east of Brisbane and moving at 7km/h.

The Bureau of Meteorology has updated its prediction on when Alfred will make landfall due to its slow speed.

‘The centre of Alfred is expected to cross the coast later Friday or early Saturday, most likely between Maroochydore and Coolangatta,’ it said.

The cyclone was initially predicted to reach land in the early hours of Friday morning.

‘Alfred is a category 2 cyclone and is forecast to maintain this intensity as it continues to approach the southeast Queensland coast,’ the bureau said.

Where is Tropical Cyclone Alfred likely to cross the coast?

• The category two system is predicted to hit south-east Queensland between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, crossing the coast on Friday
• The system has recorded winds up to 90km/h at its centre and gusts of 130km/h
• It is forecast to bring daily rainfall totals between 200mm and 400mm from Thursday to Saturday, likely leading to ‘life-threatening’ flooding

What is Cyclone Alfred’s impact zone?

• The cyclone warning zone spans Double Island Point, Queensland to Grafton, NSW, with Brisbane, the Gold Coast and hinterland to cop the brunt of strong winds
• Its arrival will coincide with high tide in Queensland, possibly affecting 20,000 properties in Brisbane, almost 5,000 on the Sunshine Coast and 6,000 on the Gold Coast
• Almost 200 swift water-rescue personnel are on standby along with 1,000 energy crew staff
• Australian Defence Force assistance has been activated with helicopters deployed to Bundaberg and Coffs Harbour
• The northern NSW towns of Ballina and Lismore are also preparing for the cyclone
• Evacuation centres will open across Queensland’s south-east and northern NSW
• About 300,000 sandbags have been sent to the region, according to the SES
• It has already got more than 4,000 calls for assistance

NSW Premier Chris Minns warned Aussies to act now if they’re in an area at risk of flooding.

‘Today is the day to act. If you feel you’re in a vulnerable situation or an unsafe area, we would ask you to consider moving in with a family, a friend, someone close by,’ he said.

‘It’s the single worst way to lose your life. You put your passengers in danger, you put in danger an SES volunteer or a firefighter sent in to try to save your life.’

A Watch and Act for flooding – prepare to evacuate has been issued for:

• Uki and surrounds
• Kingscliff North Caravan Park
• South Beach Road, Harbour Way and Reflections Massy Green Holiday Park
• New Brighton
• Belongil
• South Golden Beach
• Pottsville
• Ballina CBD and surrounds
• Hastings Point
• Kingscliff Holiday Park and properties along Cudgen Creek
• Fingal Head
• The Flat
• Kyogle and surrounds
• Kyogle North
• Chinderah and surrounds

Thousands of people on the NSW north coast are without power as the cyclone approaches, with authorities warning there could be more outages to come.

Over 2,200 residents in Lennox Head and Ballina have lost power, while more than 1,500 people in Tweed Heads have been impacted.

It is not known when power will return.

A spokesperson for Essential Energy warned customers could lose power for several days depending how damaging the cyclone is.

‘If power is lost, Essential Energy crews will be working to restore as soon as it is safe to do so,’ the company said in a statement.

‘Please keep in mind that it is not safe for crews to survey the network for damage or actively restore power in flood waters, lightning events or in extreme weather conditions, these conditions may hinder restorations times.’

The Queensland Government has confirmed Brisbane’s Gateway Bridge will shut down when wind speeds hit 90km/h as Cyclone Alfred makes landfall.

High winds will also cause the closure of the city’s Story Bridge, Walter Taylor Bridge, and Go Between Bridge, as well as pedestrian connectors at Kangaroo Point, Indooroopilly, and Breakfast Creek.

The category two system is predicted to make landfall on Friday after it slowed down to 7km/h.

The system has recorded winds up to 90km/h at its centre and gusts of 130km/h.

It is forecast to bring daily rainfall totals between 200mm and 400mm from Thursday to Saturday, likely leading to ‘life-threatening’ flooding.

The cyclone’s arrival will coincide with high tide in Queensland, possibly impacting 20,000 properties in Brisbane, almost 5,000 on the Sunshine Coast and 6,000 on the Gold Coast.

A group of Aussies has come under fire after a close call with powerful waves that nearly swept them out to sea.

The group had gathered on Currumbin Rock on the Gold Coast to watch the massive swells from looming Cyclone Alfred when a towering wave crashed over them, nearly dragging them in.

As the cyclone approaches, huge swells are battering the eastern seaboard from Queensland’s Sunshine Coast down to Coffs Harbour on the mid-north NSW coast.

Despite the dangers, many thrill-seekers are risking their safety for a closer look at the wild surf, prompting backlash.

‘They should all be fined for putting their own and others lives at risk,’ one said.

‘Very stupid people who put other rescuers’ lives at risk,’ a second added.

‘I can’t be the only one who has no sympathy for fools right? I mean, accidents happen but things like this defy the right to remain within the gene pool,’ a third said.

‘Are people that stupid, if they fall in they will need rescuing putting more peoples lives at risk, grow some brains,’ a fourth added.

Residents in the northern NSW town of Ballina, where the far-west wing of Cyclone Alfred is already being felt, have been warned to get ready to leave.

The zone – bounded by Angels Beach Drive, Bentinck Street, Kingsford Smith Drive, River Street and Canal Road – is predicted to be inundated by coastal flooding.

Several other councils have also warned residents to begin preparations for evacuation.

Brunswick Heads, Belongil, New Brighton, Fingal Head, Chinderah, Kingscliff, Hastings Point, Pottsville and South Golden Beach have all been put on high alert.

‘If you remain in the area, you may become trapped without power, water, and other essential services. It may be too dangerous for NSW SES to rescue you,’ the service said.

The areas likely to face the brunt of the cyclone are between Brisbane’s CBD and the NSW Byron Shire.

Byron Shire has evacuation centres open at Ocean Shores Country Club and Mullumbimby Ex Services Club.

The Queensland Government has also advised people ‘prepare to take shelter’ throughout Brisbane City, Redlands, Moreton Bay City, Logan City, Gold Coast and Moreton Island.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has confirmed that a massive 12.3-metre wave was recorded off the Gold Coast.

He said: ‘It is a system that certainly packs a punch, and the potential for waves, wind, rainfall, and eventually flooding remains real.

‘It has certainly run into the coast, though it was delayed overnight. It remains a Category Two system, and to give you an indication of its severity, we recorded a wave that was 12.3 metres high off the coast of the Gold Coast at Main Beach, which is a wave height we have never seen recorded before.

‘So, it is a strong, strong system, and that delayed run into the coast gives people who may not have finished their preparations a little bit more of a window.’

Queensland: Over 660 state schools shut today.

NSW: Around 220 state schools closed. Catholic and independent schools in affected areas are also closing.

Trains: Queensland Rail’s suburban train network and Gold Coast trams are not operating.

Buses: All southeast Queensland bus services cancelled.

Ferries: CityCats suspended earlier this week. Roads: Expected closures as conditions worsen.

Flights: Brisbane Airport remains open, but most flights after 3PM today are cancelled.

Where is Alfred likely to cross the coast?

• The category two system is predicted to impact southeast Queensland between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, crossing the coast on Friday
• The system has recorded winds up to 90km/h at its centre and gusts of 130km/h
• It is forecast to bring daily rainfall totals between 200mm and 400mm from Thursday to Saturday, likely leading to “life-threatening” flooding

Which communities will be impacted?

• The cyclone warning zone spans Double Island Point, Queensland to Grafton, NSW, with Brisbane, the Gold Coast and hinterland to cop the brunt of strong winds
• The cyclone’s arrival will coincide with high tide in Queensland, possibly impacting 20,000 properties in Brisbane, almost 5000 on the Sunshine Coast and 6000 on the Gold Coast
• Almost 200 swift water-rescue personnel are on standby along with 1000 energy crews
• Australian Defence Force assistance has been activated with helicopters deployed to Bundaberg and Coffs Harbour
• Evacuation centres will open across Queensland’s southeast and northern NSW

What services have been affected?

• Public transport in the southeast will be suspended from Wednesday night
• No vessels are permitted on the water until further notice, the Brisbane Regional Harbour Master warns
• More than 500 schools to close from Thursday in Queensland with almost 250 to shut in northern NSW
• Southeast major roads and bridges to close once winds reach 90km/h
• Elective surgeries will be suspended from Thursday with southeast Queensland residents urged to stay at home over coming days
• State-federal disaster assistance has been activated for 12 local government areas
• An emergency childcare declaration has allowed for support to services and families in 15 cyclone-impacted local government areas

Winds: Damaging gusts up to 120km/h, possibly increasing to 155km/h in some coastal areas by Thursday night.

Storm surge: Dangerous storm tides and high tides could lead to flooding and coastal erosion.

Rainfall: Heavy to intense rain from Thursday, with a risk of life-threatening flash flooding near and south of the cyclone’s center.

Residents in impacted areas should stay alert and prepare for severe conditions.

Currently, the cyclone is 365 kilometres east of Brisbane and meteorologist Jonathan How has warned that conditions will worsen significantly by Thursday night,

‘By Thursday night, impacts are expected to ramp up quite significantly with the potential for destructive winds, intense rainfall leading to life-threatening flash flooding and a dangerous storm site causing coastal inundation of some of those low-lying suburbs, he said.

‘We can expect to see significant impacts well before landfall for many hours, and then heading to the rest of Friday, Tropical Cyclone Alfred is expected to be downgraded back into a category one system and then a tropical low into the weekend.

‘We are still expecting to see significant impacts all the way into Saturday, especially on the southern side of that tropical cyclone. This part of Australia is used to seeing severe thunderstorms in the spring and summer, and these, of course, can bring bursts of heavy rainfall and damaging to destructive winds.

‘The difference, though, with a tropical cyclone is that wind and rain are sustained over many hours, and this can cause significant damage to property and vegetation and, of course, cause life-threatening flash flooding.’

In Brisbane alone, around 20,000 properties are at risk of flooding, prompting warnings for residents to consider evacuating.

Cyclone Alfred has slowed down to more than half of a typical cyclone’s speed, in what experts have called the worst case scenario.

While millions of residents in the warning zone may think the category two system slowing to just 7km/h is good news, meteorologists warned Alfred’s leisurely approach will help it gain strength.

Weatherzone meteorologist Ben Domensino explained the change in speed could expose ‘southeast Queensland and northeast NSW to severe weather for longer’.

‘While Alfred was previously expected to make landfall over southeast Queensland on Thursday night or early Friday morning, it is now more likely to approach the coast later on Friday. This will delay the system’s most intense weather,’ he said.

A new tracking map from the Bureau of Meteorology shows Alfred making landfall, possibly directly over Brisbane, at 7pm on Friday (local time).

‘The centre of Alfred is expected to cross the coast during Friday, noting that latest weather model data indicates the potential for a later crossing time than previously indicated,’ the bureau said.

‘Location of crossing still remains most likely between Maroochydore and Coolangatta.’

Alfred was previously expected to make landfall in the early hours of Friday morning, most likely about 2am, only one hour after a 1am high tide in Brisbane.

‘Alfred’s storm surge will have the greatest impact on flooding if it coincides with the astronomical high tide, so the timing of Alfred’s coastal approach is important for the extent and severity of coastal inundation and erosion,’ Mr Domensino said.

Despite still being more than 300km away from Australia’s east coast, Alfred was already lashing parts of northeast NSW and southeast Queensland with powerful winds, rain and massive waves on Wednesday.

Worsening the cyclone’s predicted effects is its predicted landfall zone in a highly-populated area.

‘The cyclone’s far western edge is already impacting the coast from about Coolangatta to Ballina,’ the Bureau of Meteorology said.

The Bureau will update its advice at 9am AEDT.