Strong winds, increased waves, and heavy downpours continued on Australia's Gold Coast ahead of the 'scary' Tropical Cyclone Alfred's landfall on Saturday. Residents remain on alert after authorities issued warnings over the cyclone's trajectory.
"A Category Two system brings sustained winds of up to 95 km/h (59 mph) near the center, with gusts reaching up to 130 km/h (81 mph)," according to Matthew Collopy from Australia's Bureau of Meteorology, as reported by the BBC.
Cyclone Alfred To Impact Four Million People
Authorities estimate that the cyclone, based on its current strength, will impact approximately four million people. It is expected to affect areas between the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast, with Australia's third-largest city, Brisbane, also at risk.
Authorities are moving swiftly to make arrangements related to the aftermath of the landfall, as the cyclone is projected to bring 800mm of rain in the coming days. This will impact a large area of southern Queensland and northern New South Wales (NSW), where riverine flooding remains a huge concern in the low-lying areas.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese Reacts
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Thursday that times are tough, but "Australians are resilient people."
As a precautionary measure, authorities have issued evacuation orders for tens of thousands of people. Local media outlets reported that about 80,000 people in the two states were without power due to the cyclone. In view of the situation, 660 schools in southern Queensland and 280 schools in northern NSW remained closed.
Cyclone Alfred Live Tracker
Below is the Cyclone Alfred live tracker map (by Windy) that will show the forecast for the next 24 hours.
If the above map is not visible then click on this windy map link here to check the live tracking of Cyclone Alfred.
Beachside Structures Damaged In Gold Coast
Gold Coast acting mayor Donna Gates warned that the risk remains real and advised people to stay indoors starting 4 p.m. (Australian time) today. Heavy downpour and strong winds have damaged beachside structures, Gates said.
Parts of northern NSW, including Byron and Lismore, were impacted due to flooding on roads, with vehicles seen dragging through waterlogged roads.
Alfred is currently sitting about 150 km east of Brisbane and is moving 7km/h at a "slow jog pace," the Guardian reported. A moving cyclonic system could mean heavy rainfall over an extended period, which could impact rescue and restoration efforts.
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