News

Tropical Cyclone Alfred: Moreton Bay in the firing line

Last Updated: 19 Jan 2026

By Nick Crockford and Kylie Knight

UPDATE 8PM: Tropical Cyclone Alfred remains a Category 2 system with sustained winds near the centre of 95km/h and wind gusts up to 130km/h.

It is presently 550km east of Brisbane and 520km east of the Gold Coast, moving at 17km/h.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred is moving west towards the southeast Queensland coast. It is forecast to maintain this intensity as it approaches the South East Queensland coast on Thursday.

Alfred is expected to cross the coast late Thursday or early Friday morning, most likely between the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast.

UPDATE 6.30PM: Moreton Bay City Council has just issued a Watch and Act warning for Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

It calls for people to take action now.

Residents should consider their risk of isolation and/or flooding and staying with family or friends in a safer location.

The cyclone is forecast to maintain intensity as it approaches and is expected to cross the coast late Thursday or early Friday morning.

Damaging winds gusts up to 120km/h are expected to develop about the South East Queensland and northern New South Wales coast on Wednesday, before strengthening. Dangerous storm tide may occur along the coastal foreshore as the cyclone crosses the coast. Areas of heavy to intense rain, which may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding, are expected.

UPDATE 5.30PM: Council services will transition to essential only from 5pm today (March 4) due to the expected impacts of Tropical Cyclone Alfred and safety considerations.

Services that will continue to be delivered:

Operations - Disaster Response and Recovery
Cemetery Services
Disaster Management
Environmental Health
Plumbing Services
Public Safety
Call Centre Operations
Website Services - Content Management
Information and Communication Technology Services
Communications

All waste facilities will close on Thursday, March 6 and will re-open when safe to do so. There will also be no kerbside collection services on Thursday and Friday however, catchup services will be undertaken on impacted properties from next week when it is safe to do so.

The Animal Management Pound located in Dakabin will be closed to the public on Thursday and Friday but the centre will be manned for animal care.

A number of Council facilities will close from today. Further information can be found on Council’s website or by phoning Council’s call centre on (07) 3205 0555.

Other Council services will continue to be delivered remotely during this time and until it is safe to return to normal operations.

UPDATE 5PM: The Bureau of Meteorology says Tropical Cyclone Alfred has turned and is now heading towards the South East Queensland Coast.

The Category 2 cyclone has sustained winds near the centre of 95km/h with wind gusts to 130km/h.

It is about 600km east of Brisbane and 570km east of the Gold Coast, moving at 20km/h.

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

It is forecast to maintain category 2 intensity as it approaches the South East Queensland coast on Thursday. Alfred is expected to cross the coast late Thursday or early Friday morning.

UPDATE 1PM: Premier David Crisafulli has just given an update on Tropical Cyclone Alfred, saying the Tropical Cyclone Watch will become a Tropical Cyclone Warning “in the coming hours”.

Bureau of Meteorology modelling continues to show the cyclone will turn and track towards the coast and cross late Thursday or early Friday, somewhere between north of Noosa and northern New South Wales.

“This is a rare event for South East Queensland but it’s not unprecedented and we’re asking you to take it seriously,” Mr Crisafulli said.

He said there was still an element of the population which did not fully understand the magnitude of the situation.

South East Queensland, including the City of Moreton Bay, is presently in the first of three phases of the weather event – big surf and erosion – and can expect damaging and destructive winds followed by significant rain which will cause flooding.

Mr Crisafulli said the Bay Islands would feel the impact of TC Alfred first and he is urging those communities to make decisions about whether they will stay or leave now.

He urged people living in low-lying and coastal areas to prepare for storm surges, warning if these combine with abnormally high tides caused by the low pressure in the system it will be a “more challenging prospect”.

Councils, including Moreton Bay City Council, are door knocking in these areas to warn residents.

Schools will remain open on Wednesday and an update will be provided tomorrow about plans for Thursday and Friday.

The Port of Brisbane is closed for freight, but Brisbane Airport remains open for now. Airlines will communicate directly with customers if this changes.

Mr Crisafulli says special permission has been granted in 21 local government areas for supermarkets to be resupplied 24 hours a day, from tonight, for the next two weeks, in a bid to meet demand for essential items.

He said the Department of Housing is working with community agencies to offer assistance to homeless people to ensure they have safe haven. Phone the Homeless Hotline on 1800 474 753.

A Bureau of Meteorology spokeswoman said Alfred is a category 2 system, presently about 600km east of Brisbane and moving away from the coast.

In the next 24 hours, it will stall and turn westward towards the South East Queensland coast.

Destructive winds are expected close to the system centre of about 95km/h, with gusts up to 130km/h.

By late Wednesday, winds of more than 90km/h are expected on the coast, increasing as the cyclone approaches land.

By late Thursday night or early Friday morning, the cyclone will bring destructive winds to the coast.

Locally, intense rainfall is expected later in the day on Wednesday in exposed coastal areas, with daily totals up to 100mm. These daily totals will intensify to 200mm+ in the days following, up to 400mm in some areas. Isolated areas could receive combined totals of 700mm, which will lead to flooding.

UPDATE 11.15AM: Moreton Bay City Council Mayor Peter Flannery says the Bureau of Meteorology’s forecast for Tropical Cyclone Alfred this morning “highlights significant concerns” for the city.

TC Alfred will bring heavy rains, damaging and destructive winds and flooding. Residents are being urged to take the warnings seriously and prepare for a cyclone or flood event.

QPS and SES personnel are doorknocking low lying areas that will be flood impacted by high tides and severe weather, including parts of Toorbul, Beachmere, Donnybrook, Meldale, Bribie Island, Clontarf, Griffin and Scarborough.

“City of Moreton Bay continues to monitor the evolving situation and is prepared,” Mayor Flannery says.

“Please be assured our first priority is the safety of our community and staff.

“Cyclones and the associated destructive winds are different to what many people may have experienced. If winds get above 80kmh, it will become unsafe to move, and we will not be able to assist residents. So, I encourage people to make an emergency plan now.

“I am aware that many in the community are anxious and my advice to our residents is to use this time to prepare their homes.

“We encourage people to consider staying with family and friends if living in low lying or exposed areas, prone to flooding.

“I have no doubt, as a community, we will get through whatever Tropical Cyclone Alfred brings.

"We will continue to keep people informed and share information as soon as it comes to hand.”

Places of emergency refuge will open for all people including people experiencing homelessness.

Council is encouraging people to plan and leave early to stay with family or friends in less vulnerable locations if they are at risk.

Council will inform residents of emergency refuge locations and when they open.

UPDATE 10.45AM: The Bureau of Meteorology has just provided an update on Tropical Cyclone Alfred, which will turn towards the South East Queensland coast later today.

It is a category 2 system with sustained winds near the centre of 95km/h with wind gusts to 130km/h.

Alfred is presently 630km east of Brisbane and 630km east of Maroochydore, moving at 13km/h.

The cyclone's intensity may fluctuate between category 1 and 2 later today and tomorrow, but it is forecast to cross the southeast Queensland coast at category 2 strength late on Thursday or early Friday.

The next update is expected at 5pm.

UPDATE 9.30AM: Organisers of Moreton Kids Festival have cancelled the event due to be held on Sunday, March 9.

“The team at Moreton Kids Festival has been closely monitoring the weather situation and forecasts for this week. Sadly, due to the tracking of Tropical Cyclone Alfred and the subsequent severe weather conditions predicted for South East Queensland, we have made the difficult decision to cancel,” a spokesperson for Moreton Bay Region Industry and Tourism said in a statement.

“This decision was not an easy one to make and comes after months of planning and hard work pulling together what we believe was going to be our best program yet. The safety of our guests, contractors and staff remains our first priority.”

Tickets will “automatically roll over to Redcliffe KiteFest” on September 20 and 21at Clontarf. Refunds are also available. To find out more visit the website

UPDATE 8.30AM: Energex is urging residents to take the threat of Tropical Cyclone Alfred seriously and prepare now for a “protracted period without power”.

The electricity provider says residents should have an emergency kit ready (see the website for tips), and if they rely on electric medical equipment or temperature-controlled medication to have a ‘Plan B’.

This could be a generator, staying with someone or checking with their local hospital.

During severe weather, watch for fallen powerlines, report wires down and network damage to Triple 0 (000).

UPDATE 7.30AM: Queensland Police Service is urging people save the Emergency Alert phone number as a favourite on their mobile phones as Tropical Cyclone Alfred approaches the coast.

The number is +61 444 444 444 and it is used to send Emergency Alert text messages to people within a certain geographical location during emergencies and disasters.

Residents are urged to update their phone settings to list this number as a favourite, save it as a contact so they know who is messaging them and check they have not blocked the number.

These texts contain potentially life-saving information that includes advice on how to take action to protect you and your loved ones.

As at 5am, Bureau of Meteorology modelling showed TC Alfred is making a beeline for the coast with Moreton Bay in the firing line.

TC Alfred has reintensified Category 2 strength with sustained winds near the centre of 95km per hour with wind gusts to 130km per hour.

It is presently 560km east of Brisbane and 560km east of Maroochydore, moving at 6km/h.

Alfred is currently moving southeast, but it is expected to slow and turn west towards the Queensland coast later today.

Alfred's intensity may fluctuate between category 1 and 2 over the next few days, but it is forecast to cross the southeast Queensland coast at category 2 strength late on Thursday or early Friday morning - somewhere between the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane.

UPDATE 5AM: The Bureau of Meteorology has issued an update on Tropical Cyclone Alfred with modelling showing it is making a beeline for the coast with Moreton Bay in the firing line.

TC Alfred has reintensified Category 2 strength with sustained winds near the centre of 95km per hour with wind gusts to 130km per hour.

It is presently 560km east of Brisbane and 560km east of Maroochydore, moving at 6km/h.

Alfred is currently moving southeast, but it is expected to slow and turn west towards the Queensland coast later today.

Gales with damaging wind gusts to 120km/h are expected to develop along the southeast Queensland and northeastern New South Wales coastal fringes and island communities between Tewantin and Grafton on Wednesday. Gales may extend further north from Tewantin to Sandy Cape late on Wednesday or early Thursday.

Heavy rainfall is forecast for southeast Queensland and northeastern New South Wales from Wednesday. 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 or early Friday. Flood Watches have been issued for these areas including the Pine and Caboolture Rivers.

Abnormally high tides which may cause minor flooding at the coast between Sandy Cape and Yamba are expected to continue until at least Friday. Damaging surf leading to significant beach erosion also remains likely for the open beaches between Sandy Cape and Yamba.

Moreton Bay City Council Mayor Peter Flannery and Queensland Premier David Crisafulli have urged residents to “take the threat seriously and prepare”.

Hundreds filled sandbags at council depots yesterday and many are expected to do the same today.

There is a risk of significant storm surge and flash flooding in low-lying areas including along the coast the canals.

Thirteen sandbag stations have been opened by Moreton Bay City Council:

Arana Hills SES – 2 Pine Hills Drive (off Jinker Track), Arana Hills

Beachmere – Rogers Street Sports Ground, Beachmere

Bribie Island SES – 208 First Avenue, Bongaree

Caboolture Council Depot car park – 98 Beerburrum Road, Caboolture

Deception Bay Gem Club car park – 24-52 Old Bay Road, Deception Bay

Elimbah – Coronation Drive, Elimbah

Narangba – Oakey Flat Road, between Raynbird Rd roundabout and Sovereign Rd roundabout

Petrie SES – 3 Woonara Drive, Petrie

Woodford Depot – 20 Durundur St, Woodford

Woodford Memorial Hall (rear car park) – 103 Archer St, Woodford

Dayboro Depot – 73 Bradley Street, Dayboro

Margate – opposite Council depot, Jull Street

Toorbul and Donnybrook Seniors Club – 1798 Pumicestone Road, Toorbul

Here’s what you need to know

Understand your Risk - Follow Council’s Disaster Dashboard here: https://disaster.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/

Make a Plan - Check your emergency kit, secure loose items around your home, speak to your family and household about what you’ll do in the event of storms or severe weather. https://www.getready.qld.gov.au/getting-ready/protect-your-home

Pack a Kit - Check your emergency kit and replace items you may need

Green waste stations are free and open for people to prepare their property ahead of severe weather.

Evacuation centres will open as required. Council will inform residents.

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

To find out more about how to prepare for a cyclone go to: Cyclone and storm surge | Get Ready Queensland