Cyclone Alfred: Where, when is it expected to make landfall in Australia?

Cyclone Alfred: Where, when is it expected to make landfall in Australia?

Australia’s eastern coast is currently awash with a rare tropical cyclone that could cause destructive winds and dangerous storm surges.

Late on Friday or early on Saturday, Tropical Cyclone Alfred is forecast to make landfall close to Brisbane, Australia’s third-largest city.

The city of 2.5 million people have been hit by a cyclone for the first time in more than 50 years, raising concerns about severe flooding and damage in a region that is accustomed to direct cyclone impacts.

What we are currently aware of about Alfred and its potential impact:

What exactly is Cyclone Alfred?

A Category 2 tropical cyclone is robbing toward Queensland’s sparsely populated southeast coast.

The storm, which originated in the Coral Sea east of Australia, unexpectedly turned in the Pacific Ocean, heading straight for the mainland, bringing destructive winds, heavy rain, and potentially life-threatening storm surges.

This route has the potential to travel through densely populated areas that are unfamiliar with cyclone-assisted direct hits.

Although cyclones typically form in tropical northern Australia, Alfred is only recently hitting the cooler eastern coast, which is unusual. Cyclone Zoe, the last cyclone to strike Brisbane in 1974, brought severe flooding.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated to reporters in Brisbane that a tropical cyclone is unusual to occur in a region that is not a part of the tropics, such as southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales.

Alfred is anticipated to make landfall when and where?

According to Queensland’s Bureau of Meteorology, the cyclone is forecast to hit land on Friday night or Saturday morning.

The Bureau of Meteorology reported that Alfred was 225 kilometers (140 miles) east of Brisbane and 210 kilometers (130 miles) east-northeast of the Gold Coast at 8:54 GMT on Thursday.

The slow-moving system is stalled over warm waters off the Queensland coast, according to experts, which has caused Alfred’s arrival to take longer. Low vertical wind shears and ocean waters, which could strengthen the storm further before it reaches the coast, are both attracted to this system, giving it more time to intensify.

anticipated impact

Alfred is scheduled to travel to the coast between Brisbane and the state’s further south, which has more than 3 million residents.

Will Alfred survive forever?

Floodwaters are expected to rise after the cyclone moves inland, according to forecasters, and Alfred’s impact will last for a number of days.

Strong winds and heavy rain are expected through the entire week, but the worst weather is expected from Thursday evening through Saturday morning.

What kind of a name does Alfred have, and what might it do?

Alfred is currently categorized as a Category 2 storm, which translates to strong winds of 89 to 117 km/h (55 to 73 mph) capable of causing power outages, tree removal, and damage to homes. Additionally, forecasts call for dangerous storm surges and heavy rain.

Storms are categorised using the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, which is used by authorities. According to the scale’s sustained wind speeds, hurricanes are classified into five different strength categories. Category 5 has the highest level of “catastrophic damage.”

According to the Bureau of Meteorology in some places, the total rainfall from the cyclone could exceed 800 mm (31. 5 inches) in comparison to the typical March rainfall.

Additionally, wind gusts of up to 155 kilometers per hour (96 mph) are anticipated, which could damage buildings, obliterate trees, and obstruct electrical service.

The storm surge could worsen, causing thousands of homes to be flooded in low-lying areas, because the Queensland coast has already experienced strong waves in recent days.

Schools, hospitals, airports, and public transportation are all closing as the area prepares for the storm.

sign board
The Gold Coast Seaway has a no-skimming area [Jono Searle/AAP Image via AP].

What regions will Alfred’s effects be?

A 300-kilometer (190-mile) stretch of coastline between Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast and Byron Bay in New South Wales will be affected by the cyclone.

Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and northern New South Wales are some of the areas that are thought to be the worst-affected.

Up to 20 000 homes, according to Brisbane’s chief executive, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner, could experience some form of flooding.

How should I make the storm’s path home?

Local authorities have recommended a number of precautions and measures, including:

    Installing shutters or boarding up windows and doors to withstand the winds and debris. ​

  • Buy enough emergency supplies, including water, food, batteries, medications, and batteries for at least three days. Essential items are already running out on supermarket shelves.
  • In a waterproof bag, pack first aid supplies, battery-operated radios, and important documents.
  • Evacuation planning: Look for official alerts and determine safe routes to the closest evacuation centers.
  • Avoid the coast: Beaches are already crashing down by five meters (16 feet) of waves.

Will the environment be impacted by public transportation?

Yes, southeast Queensland’s public transportation system will experience significant disruption. Up until further notice, all bus and train services have been suspended from Wednesday’s final service. ​

Due to risky conditions on the Brisbane River, Brisbane’s CityCat ferries have also stopped operating.

What other delays and closures exist?

From Thursday through Friday, more than 700 schools in Queensland and northern New South Wales will be closed.

Additionally, the Gold Coast Airport was shut down from Wednesday afternoon and major airlines like Qantas and Virgin have already canceled flights.

What steps are being taken by authorities?

Albanese claimed that his administration has distributed 250, 000 sandbags to Brisbane and the Gold Coast residents who are in flood-prone areas. These can serve as barriers to preventing flooding and directing water away from buildings.

Additionally, the military has provided 80 000 more sandbags to flood-prone regions.

For those who can’t find safe shelter, the Brisbane Showgrounds will be a cyclone refuge center.

In Queensland, evacuation centers are also being established to provide residents with long-term housing who have lost their homes to flooding or storm damage.

authorities give sandbags
[Jono Searle/AAP Image via AP] Filling sandbags on the Gold Coast is done by council employees and residents.

Source: Aljazeera

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