Tropical Cyclone Alfred ‘likely’ to turn towards coast

UPDATE 2.30PM: Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has just given an update, following a meeting of the Queensland Disaster Management Committee today.

Mr Crisafulli said modelling had “firmed” and a large area of the Queensland coastline, including Moreton Bay, was now in a precaution and preparation mode for severe weather this week with Tropical Cyclone Alfred expected to cross the coast.

He is urging people in this part of the state, not used to cyclones, to prepare in the days ahead and keep up to date with warnings from the Bureau of Meteorology.

The Bureau’s mapping shows Alfred is likely to turn towards the southern Queensland coast from Tuesday.

Mr Crisafulli says the Tropical Cyclone Alfred could cross the coast anywhere in a broad area along the southern Queensland coast mid-week.

The worst of the weather is expected on its southern edge, with damaging winds, heavy and intense rain, high tides, coastal erosion and flooding possible into next weekend.

He said there were concerns about the Pumicestone Passage area, particularly the northern tip of Bribie Island which is likely to sustain further devastating erosion.

Mr Crisafulli has spoken to telecommunications companies about maintaining connectivity so vital public safety messages can be shared with the community in a timely manner.

Emergency services are on standby including Queensland Fire and Rescue Service’s swift water teams as well as SES volunteers.

Energy providers are also preparing, pre-deploying generator capacity.

“There is a real possibility of a cyclone crossing in the southern part of the state. History shows that it does (happen),” he said.

“Be prepared and heed the warnings. Do what you can to get ready and know we’ve done the same.”

A Bureau of Meteorology spokesman said the Category 2 system was presently about 370km north of Bundaberg.

From Tuesday, there is an increasing risk it will track west to the southern Queensland and northern New South Wales coast as a Category 2 cyclone.

Multiple days of rain totals from 300-600mm are possible and could lead to widespread flash flooding. A Flood Watch warning has been issued for the Pine and Caboolture Rivers.

A Moreton Bay City Council spokeswoman says Council is monitoring the evolving situation and planning for all available scenarios to allow the community to be prepared.

Sandbag stations will be open on Monday afternoon.

Stay informed by visiting Moreton Bay City Council’s disaster dashboard: https://disaster.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/

Current BoM weather warnings can be found at http://www.bom.gov.au/qld/warnings/

To find out how to prepare for a cyclone visit: https://www.getready.qld.gov.au/getting-ready/protect-your-home

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EARLIER 10AM: Bureau of Meteorology mapping shows Tropical Cyclone Alfred is likely to turn towards the southern Queensland coast this week.

The cyclone is currently at category 2 intensity with “sustained winds near the centre of 100km/h with wind gusts to 140km/h.

It is 510km east of Rockhampton and 400km northeast of Bundaberg, moving at 8km/h.

The Bureau says it is forecast to move southwards, roughly parallel to the Queensland coast during Sunday and weaken a little further, before moving more to the southeast during Monday.

Alfred is then expected to slow down and is likely to turn westward from Tuesday, moving back towards the southern Queensland coast.

Severe coastal hazards are likely for southern Queensland and northeast New South Wales.

A large and powerful to potentially damaging easterly swell as well as abnormally high tides are forecast about exposed southern Queensland beaches, possibly extending to northern New South Wales from Monday.

Premier David Crisafulli is expected to give an update at 2pm, following a noon meeting of the Queensland Disaster Management Committee.

On its website the Bureau makes the following disclaimer: “The forecast path shown above is the Bureau's best estimate of the cyclone's future movement and intensity. There is always some uncertainty associated with tropical cyclone forecasting”.