Source: Bureau of Meteorology

Issued at 9:03 pm EST on Friday 7 March 2025

Headline:
Tropical Cyclone Alfred is expected to cross the Moreton Bay Islands Saturday morning. Rainfall, wind and ocean impacts are likely for southeast Queensland and northeast New South Wales tonight and over the weekend.

Areas Affected:
Warning Zone
Double Island Point in Queensland to Yamba in New South Wales, including Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Byron Bay and Ballina but not including Gympie .

Watch Zone
None.

Cancelled Zone
None.

Details of Tropical Cyclone Alfred 22U at 9:00 pm AEST [10:00 pm AEDT]:
Intensity: Category 2, sustained winds near the centre of 95 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 130 kilometres per hour.

Location: within 20 kilometres of 27.6 degrees South 153.9 degrees East, estimated to be 80 kilometres east of Brisbane and 70 kilometres northeast of Gold Coast.

Movement: west northwest at 6 kilometres per hour.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred, category 2, is most likely to cross over the Moreton Bay Islands Saturday morning before crossing the mainland coast, between Maroochydore and Brisbane later during the day. Alfred is expected to weaken as it moves inland late Saturday and Sunday.

Hazards:
HEAVY RAINFALL bands are continuing to move over southeast Queensland and northeast New South Wales. HEAVY to locally INTENSE RAINFALL which may lead to DANGEROUS AND LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODING is likely to develop this evening and increase into Saturday. Once Alfred crosses the coast, it is likely to weaken below tropical cyclone strength later on Saturday. However, HEAVY to locally INTENSE RAINFALL is expected to continue near and south of the system centre during the weekend. Separate Severe Weather Warning, Flood Watches, and Flood Warnings are current for southeast Queensland and northeast New South Wales.

ABNORMALLY HIGH TIDES are likely to continue causing MINOR FLOODING of coastal low lying areas between Double Island Point and Ballina, particularly during tonight's (early Saturday) high tide. DAMAGING SURF leading to significant beach erosion remains likely for the open beaches between Double Island Point and Yamba, and further south over the New South Wales coast. Separate Coastal Hazard and Hazardous Surf warnings are current for southeast Queensland and New South Wales coasts.

Gales with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 120 kilometres per hour are occurring near the coast between Cape Moreton and Yamba. Gales with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 120 kilometres per hour are expected to extend to adjacent inland areas between Beerburrum and Ballina during tonight. These winds may extend to exposed coastal locations further north to Double Island Point overnight or during Saturday morning as Alfred approaches the coast.

DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS of up to 150 kilometres per hour to develop about the Moreton Bay Islands and exposed coastal location on the northern Gold Coast from tonight, as Alfred's destructive core approaches the coast. The destructive winds may persist until Alfred crosses the coast early Saturday morning.

Although Alfred is expected to weaken and move inland during Saturday, DAMAGING WIND GUSTS may continue, particularly over elevated terrain, during Saturday. A separate Severe Weather Warning is current.

Refer to associated warnings for Queensland and New South Wales at http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/warnings.

Recommended Action:
People between Cape Moreton and Ballina, including the Moreton Bay Islands should remain inside until conditions have eased and listen to the next advice.

People between Yamba and Ballina in New South Wales, as well as Brisbane to Double Island Point in Queensland should take precautions and listen to the next advice.

- For cyclone preparedness and safety advice, visit the Get Ready Queensland website (www.getready.qld.gov.au)

- If you choose to take shelter away from your home, stay COVID-19 safe and pack a mask and hand sanitiser (if you have them).

- For emergency assistance call the Queensland State Emergency Service or New South Wales State Emergency Service (SES) on 132 500 (for assistance with storm damage, rising flood water, fallen trees on buildings or roof damage).

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