The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) this afternoon issued a coastal hazards warning as they predict Tropical Cyclone (TC) Alfred to move closer to the Queensland coast, from south of Gladstone to Brisbane by Saturday afternoon.
In an update issued on Friday afternoon Senior Meteorologist Angus Hines said TC Alfred was a Category 3 severe cyclone with winds gusting about 220km/hr.
“That is exceptionally powerful wind out over these open waters. Across mainland Queensland we’ve seen gusty conditions of about 70-80km/hr for many coastal areas,” he said.
Mr Hines said the cyclone was located about 700km off the coast moving southeasterly and could be 400km from the coast on Saturday afternoon.
BOM has issued a coastal hazards warning from south of Gladstone, near 1770, past Noosa Heads and the Sunshine Coast to Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
“It could be windy, there may be a few showers,” he said.
“The warning covers damaging surf and abnormally high tides.”
The impacts BOM anticipate would make coastal activities such as surfing, boating, rock fishing and swimming dangerous.
All things on and near the water will become hazardous this weekend, he said.
Mr Hines said innundation at high tides was distinctly possible, with tides predicted to be half a metre higher than the highest tides of the year, which could lead to inundation, flooding of low lying coastal locations, walkways, paths, car parks, roads and properties.
“Days of powerful waves could lead to the erosion of coastlines, potentially eating away at beaches and causing damage through eastern parts of Queensland,” he said.
Early next week, BOM expect to see TC Alfred veer away from the coast but likely to stay as a category 2 cyclone in line with Brisbane.
Through the second part of next week there are a few paths the cyclone could take, with a possibility of returning to the mainland bringing wind, rain, large swells and coastal hazards to southern Queensland and northern NSW.
Stay up to date at BOM website.
