Cyclone alfred live updates: What you need to know

Anthony Albanese has warned that the delayed timing of the cyclone’s landfall is not a good sign.

‘It is still anticipated this will… reach landfall, it will just do it later,’ he said.

‘And a risk of course is that slowing up, it increases in intensity.

‘We expect three separate hazards, storm surges and high tides along coastal communities and severe wins as Alfred approaches the coast.

‘Then rainfall, and potential flash and riverine flooding right into the weekend.’

The PM said Queensland supermarkets will close today in the cyclone zone.

‘Queensland supermarkets in affected areas will close from today,’ Mr Albanese says.

He refused to say if he will call the federal election this weekend as expected.

Mr Albanese said recovery grants will be made available for impacted communities.

Cyclone Alfred has slowed down to more than half of a typical cyclone’s speed, in what experts have called the worst case scenario.

While millions of residents in the warning zone may think the category two system slowing to just 7km/h is good news, meteorologists warned Alfred’s leisurely approach will help it gain strength.

Weatherzone meteorologist Ben Domensino explained the change in speed could expose ‘southeast Queensland and northeast NSW to severe weather for longer’.

‘While Alfred was previously expected to make landfall over southeast Queensland on Thursday night or early Friday morning, it is now more likely to approach the coast later on Friday. This will delay the system’s most intense weather,’ he said.

A new tracking map from the Bureau of Meteorology shows Alfred making landfall, possibly directly over Brisbane, at 7pm on Friday (local time).

‘The centre of Alfred is expected to cross the coast during Friday, noting that latest weather model data indicates the potential for a later crossing time than previously indicated,’ the bureau said.

‘Location of crossing still remains most likely between Maroochydore and Coolangatta.’

Alfred was previously expected to make landfall in the early hours of Friday morning, most likely about 2am, only one hour after a 1am high tide in Brisbane.

‘Alfred’s storm surge will have the greatest impact on flooding if it coincides with the astronomical high tide, so the timing of Alfred’s coastal approach is important for the extent and severity of coastal inundation and erosion,’ Mr Domensino said.

Despite still being more than 300km away from Australia’s east coast, Alfred was already lashing parts of northeast NSW and southeast Queensland with powerful winds, rain and massive waves on Wednesday.

Worsening the cyclone’s predicted effects is its predicted landfall zone in a highly-populated area.

‘The cyclone’s far western edge is already impacting the coast from about Coolangatta to Ballina,’ the Bureau of Meteorology said.

The Bureau will update its advice at 9am AEDT.

In Brisbane alone, 20,000 homes are at risk of flooding, with an additional 6,000 homes at risk on the Gold Coast, local council modelling shows.

The suburbs of Brighton, Windsor, Ashgrove, Morningside, Rocklea, Coopers Plains, Carina, Sandgate, Hemmant, Lota, Tingalpa, Indooroopilly, Albion, Bardon and Wynnum West are most at risk.

On the Gold Coast, the suburbs most at risk from are Surfers Paradise, Paradise Point and Elanora.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner urged residents in these areas to evacuate.

‘These 20,000 properties could experience anything from minor inundation in their yards to significant flooding inside homes,’ he said.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred is on track to make landfall late Friday or possibly Saturday, bringing winds upwards of 120km/h, up to 700mm of rain and flooding.

It could be the most devastating weather pattern seen in south-east Queensland and northern NSW as it is the first tropical to hit the region in more than 50 years.

A warning zone stretching 650km remains in place from Double Island Point in Queensland to Grafton in northern NSW.

The zone includes Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Byron Bay and Ballina, but doesn’t include Grafton.

At 9am AEDT on Thursday, 285 kilometres east of Brisbane and moving at 7km/h.

The Bureau of Meteorology has delayed its prediction on when Alfred will make landfall due to its slow speed.

‘The centre of Alfred is expected to cross the coast later Friday or early Saturday, most likely between Maroochydore and Coolangatta,’ it said.

The cyclone was initially predicted to reach land in the early hours of Friday morning.

‘Alfred is a category 2 cyclone and is forecast to maintain this intensity as it continues to approach the south-east Queensland coast.’

Where is Tropical Cyclone Alfred likely to cross the coast?

• The category two system is predicted to hit south-east Queensland between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, crossing the coast on Friday
• The system has recorded winds up to 90km/h at its centre and gusts of 130km/h
• It is forecast to bring daily rainfall totals between 200mm and 400mm from Thursday to Saturday, likely leading to ‘life-threatening’ flooding

What is Cyclone Alfred’s impact zone?

• The cyclone warning zone spans Double Island Point, Queensland to Grafton, NSW, with Brisbane, the Gold Coast and hinterland to cop the brunt of strong winds
• Its arrival will coincide with high tide in Queensland, possibly affecting 20,000 properties in Brisbane, almost 5,000 on the Sunshine Coast and 6,000 on the Gold Coast
• Almost 200 swift water-rescue personnel are on standby along with 1,000 energy crew staff
• Australian Defence Force assistance has been activated with helicopters deployed to Bundaberg and Coffs Harbour
• The northern NSW towns of Ballina and Lismore are also preparing for the cyclone
• Evacuation centres will open across Queensland’s south-east and northern NSW
• About 300,000 sandbags have been sent to the region, according to the SES
• It has already got more than 4,000 calls for assistance

NSW Premier Chris Minns warned Aussies to act now if they’re in an area at risk of flooding.

‘Today is the day to act. If you feel you’re in a vulnerable situation or an unsafe area, we would ask you to consider moving in with a family, a friend, someone close by,’ he said.

‘It’s the single worst way to lose your life. You put your passengers in danger, you put in danger an SES volunteer or a firefighter sent in to try to save your life.’

A Watch and Act for flooding – prepare to evacuate has been issued for:

• Uki and surrounds
• Kingscliff North Caravan Park
• South Beach Road, Harbour Way and Reflections Massy Green Holiday Park
• New Brighton
• Belongil
• South Golden Beach
• Pottsville
• Ballina CBD and surrounds
• Hastings Point
• Kingscliff Holiday Park and properties along Cudgen Creek
• Fingal Head
• The Flat
• Kyogle and surrounds
• Kyogle North
• Chinderah and surrounds

Thousands of people on the NSW north coast are without power as the cyclone approaches, with authorities warning there could be more outages to come.

Over 2,200 residents in Lennox Head and Ballina have lost power, while more than 1,500 people in Tweed Heads have been impacted.

It is not known when power will return.

A spokesperson for Essential Energy warned customers could lose power for several days depending how damaging the cyclone is.

‘If power is lost, Essential Energy crews will be working to restore as soon as it is safe to do so,’ the company said in a statement.

‘Please keep in mind that it is not safe for crews to survey the network for damage or actively restore power in flood waters, lightning events or in extreme weather conditions, these conditions may hinder restorations times.’

Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia customers have been left in limbo ahead of Cyclone Alfred’s landfall.

Qantas described the unfolding situation as ‘fluid’.

‘Qantas and Jetstar teams continue to closely monitor the cyclone and we are contacting customers directly with any changes to their flights,’ a spokesperson said.

‘The safety of our customers and people remains our main priority.

‘We will continue to adjust our schedule and make further flight cancellations across Southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales as the cyclone progresses.’

Disruptions to flights began on Wednesday with Gold Coast and Ballina airports closing.

‘We are working to get people in and out of Brisbane as safely and as quickly as possible and continue to work closely with the state and federal government and the relevant local airport authorities,’ the Qantas spokesperson said.

‘Customers can regularly check the Qantas app, Qantas.com and Jetstar.com, and their email and SMS channels, as we will update them directly or via their travel agent.

‘We realise that this is a challenging time for many of our customers and are offering additional flexibility including travel credits and fee free date changes to those who have booked flights to or from the impacted areas.’

Meanwhile, Virgin will operate a ‘limited schedule to and from Brisbane Airport before 4pm’ and has suspended flights to and from Ballina and the Gold Coast until Friday.

‘Safety is always our top priority, and our meteorologists continue to closely monitor the weather system,’ the airline said.

The Queensland Government has confirmed Brisbane’s Gateway Bridge will shut down when wind speeds hit 90km/h as Cyclone Alfred makes landfall.

High winds will also cause the closure of the city’s Story Bridge, Walter Taylor Bridge, and Go Between Bridge, as well as pedestrian connectors at Kangaroo Point, Indooroopilly, and Breakfast Creek.

The category two system is predicted to make landfall on Friday after it slowed down to 7km/h.

The system has recorded winds up to 90km/h at its centre and gusts of 130km/h.

It is forecast to bring daily rainfall totals between 200mm and 400mm from Thursday to Saturday, likely leading to ‘life-threatening’ flooding.

The cyclone’s arrival will coincide with high tide in Queensland, possibly impacting 20,000 properties in Brisbane, almost 5,000 on the Sunshine Coast and 6,000 on the Gold Coast.

A group of Aussies has come under fire after a close call with powerful waves that nearly swept them out to sea.

The group had gathered on Currumbin Rock on the Gold Coast to watch the massive swells from looming Cyclone Alfred when a towering wave crashed over them, nearly dragging them in.

As the cyclone approaches, huge swells are battering the eastern seaboard from Queensland’s Sunshine Coast down to Coffs Harbour on the mid-north NSW coast.

Despite the dangers, many thrill-seekers are risking their safety for a closer look at the wild surf, prompting backlash.

‘They should all be fined for putting their own and others lives at risk,’ one said.

‘Very stupid people who put other rescuers’ lives at risk,’ a second added.

‘I can’t be the only one who has no sympathy for fools right? I mean, accidents happen but things like this defy the right to remain within the gene pool,’ a third said.

‘Are people that stupid, if they fall in they will need rescuing putting more peoples lives at risk, grow some brains,’ a fourth added.

Residents in the northern NSW town of Ballina, where the far-west wing of Cyclone Alfred is already being felt, have been warned to get ready to leave.

The zone – bounded by Angels Beach Drive, Bentinck Street, Kingsford Smith Drive, River Street and Canal Road – is predicted to be inundated by coastal flooding.

Several other councils have also warned residents to begin preparations for evacuation.

Brunswick Heads, Belongil, New Brighton, Fingal Head, Chinderah, Kingscliff, Hastings Point, Pottsville and South Golden Beach have all been put on high alert.

‘If you remain in the area, you may become trapped without power, water, and other essential services. It may be too dangerous for NSW SES to rescue you,’ the service said.

The areas likely to face the brunt of the cyclone are between Brisbane’s CBD and the NSW Byron Shire.

Byron Shire has evacuation centres open at Ocean Shores Country Club and Mullumbimby Ex Services Club.

The Queensland Government has also advised people ‘prepare to take shelter’ throughout Brisbane City, Redlands, Moreton Bay City, Logan City, Gold Coast and Moreton Island.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has confirmed that a massive 12.3-metre wave was recorded off the Gold Coast.

He said: ‘It is a system that certainly packs a punch, and the potential for waves, wind, rainfall, and eventually flooding remains real.

‘It has certainly run into the coast, though it was delayed overnight. It remains a Category Two system, and to give you an indication of its severity, we recorded a wave that was 12.3 metres high off the coast of the Gold Coast at Main Beach, which is a wave height we have never seen recorded before.

‘So, it is a strong, strong system, and that delayed run into the coast gives people who may not have finished their preparations a little bit more of a window.’

Queensland: Over 660 state schools shut today.

NSW: Around 220 state schools closed. Catholic and independent schools in affected areas are also closing.

Trains: Queensland Rail’s suburban train network and Gold Coast trams are not operating.

Buses: All southeast Queensland bus services cancelled.

Ferries: CityCats suspended earlier this week. Roads: Expected closures as conditions worsen.

Flights: Brisbane Airport remains open, but most flights after 3PM today are cancelled.

Where is Alfred likely to cross the coast?

• The category two system is predicted to impact southeast Queensland between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, crossing the coast on Friday
• The system has recorded winds up to 90km/h at its centre and gusts of 130km/h
• It is forecast to bring daily rainfall totals between 200mm and 400mm from Thursday to Saturday, likely leading to “life-threatening” flooding

Which communities will be impacted?

• The cyclone warning zone spans Double Island Point, Queensland to Grafton, NSW, with Brisbane, the Gold Coast and hinterland to cop the brunt of strong winds
• The cyclone’s arrival will coincide with high tide in Queensland, possibly impacting 20,000 properties in Brisbane, almost 5000 on the Sunshine Coast and 6000 on the Gold Coast
• Almost 200 swift water-rescue personnel are on standby along with 1000 energy crews
• Australian Defence Force assistance has been activated with helicopters deployed to Bundaberg and Coffs Harbour
• Evacuation centres will open across Queensland’s southeast and northern NSW

What services have been affected?

• Public transport in the southeast will be suspended from Wednesday night
• No vessels are permitted on the water until further notice, the Brisbane Regional Harbour Master warns
• More than 500 schools to close from Thursday in Queensland with almost 250 to shut in northern NSW
• Southeast major roads and bridges to close once winds reach 90km/h
• Elective surgeries will be suspended from Thursday with southeast Queensland residents urged to stay at home over coming days
• State-federal disaster assistance has been activated for 12 local government areas
• An emergency childcare declaration has allowed for support to services and families in 15 cyclone-impacted local government areas

Winds: Damaging gusts up to 120km/h, possibly increasing to 155km/h in some coastal areas by Thursday night.

Storm surge: Dangerous storm tides and high tides could lead to flooding and coastal erosion.

Rainfall: Heavy to intense rain from Thursday, with a risk of life-threatening flash flooding near and south of the cyclone’s center.

Residents in impacted areas should stay alert and prepare for severe conditions.

Currently, the cyclone is 365 kilometres east of Brisbane and meteorologist Jonathan How has warned that conditions will worsen significantly by Thursday night,

‘By Thursday night, impacts are expected to ramp up quite significantly with the potential for destructive winds, intense rainfall leading to life-threatening flash flooding and a dangerous storm site causing coastal inundation of some of those low-lying suburbs, he said.

‘We can expect to see significant impacts well before landfall for many hours, and then heading to the rest of Friday, Tropical Cyclone Alfred is expected to be downgraded back into a category one system and then a tropical low into the weekend.

‘We are still expecting to see significant impacts all the way into Saturday, especially on the southern side of that tropical cyclone. This part of Australia is used to seeing severe thunderstorms in the spring and summer, and these, of course, can bring bursts of heavy rainfall and damaging to destructive winds.

‘The difference, though, with a tropical cyclone is that wind and rain are sustained over many hours, and this can cause significant damage to property and vegetation and, of course, cause life-threatening flash flooding.’

In Brisbane alone, around 20,000 properties are at risk of flooding, prompting warnings for residents to consider evacuating.