Millions in danger as Cyclone Alfred changes course
<p>Tropical Cyclone Alfred is expected to make landfall in Australia's east coast, with millions of people being told to prepare, as the cyclone could bring more than half a metre of rain in some places. </p>
<p>“This is a really significant event,” said the Bureau of Meteorology’s (BOM) Angus Hines late on Tuesday.</p>
<p>“The main hazards we are expecting are heavy rain and flooding for large areas of Queensland and New South Wales, damaging to destructive winds as well as storm surge and coastal inundation”.</p>
<p>A severe weather warning has also been put in place for almost 1000km of the coast, with water levels expected to exceed the highest tide of the year by around half a metre, according to the BOM. </p>
<p>Due to it hitting a high pressure area, the cyclone has switched from heading north to south, and is now heading west. </p>
<p>As of 4am on Wednesday morning, the cyclone was at category 2 strength, 465km east of Brisbane and 430km from the Gold Coast.</p>
<p>A warning zone has been put in place from Double Island Point in Queensland to north of Grafton in New South Wales, as well as Brisbane, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Byron Bay and Ballina.</p>
<p>BOM meteorologist Jonathon How said it would make landfall anytime from late Thursday into Friday. </p>
<p>“The location of landfall will be critical because we are expecting to see the worst of the impacts, or most significant impacts, on the southern flank of the cyclone.</p>
<p>“That does include places like Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and also the Northern Rivers.”</p>
<p>Brisbane City Council has a flood modelling system in place, and according to the Courier Mail, as many as 20,000 properties could be at risk from inundation. In the Gold Coast, 6000 properties could be at risk. </p>
<p>The maps of potential flood zones in the Brisbane City LGA show suburbs including Brighton, Windsor, Ashgrove, Indooroopilly, Sandgate are Rocklea at risk, while in the Gold Coast, Biggara Waters among others could be impacted by floods. </p>
<p>Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has urged residents to take the warnings seriously. </p>
<p>“In the last few days we’ve spoken to people about having days to prepare, we’re moving into that phase where it’s now about hours,” he told <em>ABC News Breakfast</em> on Wednesday morning.</p>
<p>“Do all the little things now, it’ll make a world of difference.”</p>
<p>He added that if they are told to evacuate, “you should leave and I can’t be more blunt than that”. </p>
<p>“The idea about replacing property, well, that’s another story for another day. Your priority is you. So if somebody tells you to leave, you should heed that advice.”</p>
<p>Residents in northern NSW have also been urged to prepare. </p>
<p>“What we need is the community to start being alert and preparing themselves,” NSW SES Deputy Commissioner Deb Platz told Today on Wednesday morning.</p>
<p><em>Image: BOM</em></p>
