Source: Bureau of Meteorology

Issued at 4:42 pm EST on Tuesday 4 March 2025
Headline:

Tropical Cyclone Alfred is moving towards the southeast Queensland coast.

Areas Affected:
Warning Zone
Double Island Point in Queensland to Yamba in New South Wales, including Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Byron Bay and Ballina.

Watch Zone
Sandy Cape to Double Island Point in Queensland, and Yamba to Grafton, not including Grafton in New South Wales.

Cancelled Zone
None.

Details of Tropical Cyclone Alfred 22U at 4:00 pm AEST [5:00 pm AEDT]:

Intensity: Category 2, sustained winds near the centre of 95 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 130 kilometres per hour.

Location: within 20 kilometres of 28.1 degrees South 159.1 degrees East, estimated to be 600 kilometres east of Brisbane and 570 kilometres east of Gold Coast.

Movement: southwest at 20 kilometres per hour.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred is moving west towards the southeast Queensland coast.

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 late Thursday or early Friday morning.
Hazards:

Gales with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 120 kilometres per hour are expected to develop along the southeast Queensland and northeastern New South Wales coastal and island communities between Double Island Point and Yamba on Wednesday and persist during Thursday. Gales may extend further north from Double Island Point to Sandy Cape, and south from Yamba to Grafton early Thursday.

DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS of up to 155 kilometres per hour may develop about the exposed coastal and island locations near and to the south of the track as Alfred's destructive core approaches and crosses the coast late Thursday or early Friday.

DANGEROUS STORM TIDE may occur along the coastal foreshore, particularly in areas near and south of the cyclone centre, if the time of coastal crossing coincides with the high tide during Thursday night or early Friday morning. Tides are likely to rise significantly above the highest high tide mark with damaging waves and dangerous inundation of coastal low-lying areas.

ABNORMALLY HIGH TIDES are likely to continue causing MINOR FLOODING of coastal low lying areas between Sandy Cape and Yamba, particularly during the time of high tide tonight through till Friday. DAMAGING SURF leading to significant beach erosion remains likely for the open beaches between Sandy Cape and Yamba, and further south over New South Wales coast. A separate Coastal Hazard and Hazardous Surf Warning is current for southeast Queensland and northeastern New South Wales coasts.

Heavy rainfall is forecast for southeast Queensland and northeastern New South Wales from Thursday. HEAVY to locally INTENSE RAINFALL which may lead to DANGEROUS AND LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODING may occur near and south of the cyclone centre as Alfred approaches the coast late on Thursday. A separate Severe Weather Warning and Flood Watch are current for southeast Queensland and northeast New South Wales.

Refer to associated warnings for Queensland and New South Wales at http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/warnings.
Recommended Action:

People between Double Island Point in Queensland and Yamba in New South Wales should immediately commence or continue preparations, especially securing boats and property.

- For cyclone preparedness and safety advice, visit the Get Ready Queensland website (www.getready.qld.gov.au)

- If you choose to take shelter away from your home, stay COVID-19 safe and pack a mask and hand sanitiser (if you have them).

- For emergency assistance call the Queensland State Emergency Service or New South Wales State Emergency Service (SES) on 132 500 (for assistance with storm damage, rising flood water, fallen trees on buildings or roof damage).

People between Sandy Cape to Double Island Point in Queensland and Yamba to Grafton in New South Wales should consider what action they will need to take if the cyclone threat increases.

- Information is available from your local government

- For cyclone preparedness and safety advice, visit the Get Ready Queensland website (www.getready.qld.gov.au)

- For emergency assistance call the Queensland or New South Wales State Emergency Service (SES) on 132 500 (for assistance with storm damage, rising flood water, fallen trees on buildings or roof damage).

Current Tropical Cyclones