Authorities are urging residents to remain cautious as ex-Cyclone Alfred continues to impact the eastern coast of Australia. The storm has left more than 330,000 homes and businesses without power.
Although Alfred has weakened into a tropical low-pressure system, it can still bring severe winds and flooding, particularly to the eastern coast.
The cyclone lost strength early on Saturday, crossing the islands off the Queensland coast overnight. It is now heading toward the mainland, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
“Heavy rainfall is now the main concern as the former cyclone moves inland. This could cause flash flooding and riverine flooding,” said Matt Collopy, a Bureau of Meteorology manager.
Alfred has caused widespread power outages, affecting over 330,000 properties. Authorities have evacuated thousands of people, though no fatalities have been reported. They continue advising residents to stay indoors.
“The effects are already being felt, and we expect the situation to worsen in the coming hours,” said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during a press conference from the National Situation Room in Canberra.
The storm was expected to be the first cyclone to impact the east coast near Brisbane since 1974. While cyclones are common in Queensland’s tropical regions, they are rare in the state’s temperate southeast, which borders New South Wales.
Power outages and flooding from Alfred
Brisbane Airport remains closed, and public transport services in the city have been suspended. Additionally, over 1,000 schools in southeast Queensland and around 280 in northern New South Wales are closed.
More than 330,000 homes and businesses across Queensland and New South Wales are without power. Gold Coast recorded gusts of up to 107 km/h (66 mph) on Friday night. Of these outages, 291,000 properties were in Queensland, including 131,000 in Gold Coast. Another 45,000 homes in New South Wales have lost power.
Fallen trees have damaged power lines, homes, and vehicles across the region. In northern New South Wales, a man remains missing after his four-wheel drive was swept off a bridge and into a swollen river.
“Although the storm has weakened, serious risks remain. People must remain vigilant and avoid complacency,” Prime Minister Albanese warned.
