A slow-moving tropical storm, Cyclone Alfred, brought heavy rain and damaging winds to eastern Australia’s populated coastline on Saturday, sparing the region from the worst of its potential impact.
However, hundreds of thousands of homes in south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales were left without power due to fallen trees and downed powerlines. Authorities warned that flooding remained a significant risk, with heavy rainfall and strong winds expected to continue over the coming days.
The storm’s landfall was delayed by several days, causing anxiety among residents who are rare targets for cyclones in Australia. The delay also gave homeowners more time to prepare, but sightseers were able to view the storm’s devastating effects on the coast.
Surfers took advantage of the storm’s arrival, with waves reaching 4-6 meters high, making it a memorable event for those involved. However, police issued stern warnings to surfers and beachgoers, as authorities deemed the beaches hazardous.
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) was pre-positioned in the affected areas to respond quickly, but 13 personnel were injured in an accident involving military trucks on Saturday. The storm’s overall impact is expected to be significant, despite its current weakening to a tropical depression.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the situation as “very serious” due to flash flooding and heavy winds, and urged residents to remain vigilant. With several flood warnings still in place, the region is expected to experience severe weather conditions for days to come.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/07/australia/tropical-cyclone-alfred-warnings-intl-hnk/index.html