Tropical Cyclone Alfred Australia: Scary videos emerge from Queensland; latest updates as Noosa, Coolangatta brace for landfall

AGENCY
canebrra, Mar 6
Tropical Cyclone Alfred is expected to make landfall in Australia early Saturday morning and is expected to bring heavy winds and rainfall into northern New South Wales (NSW). The delayed landfall could prolong severe weather conditions, residents have been warned. However, authorities remain hopeful that Cyclone Alfred will downgrade in severity to a category 1 storm by the time it makes landfall. Flood evacuation warnings have been issued in New South Wales as Australia prepares for the first tropical cyclone in many decades. Scary videos of giant waves and foolhardy people risking their lives to get a glimpse of the deadly sea are flooding the internet. People being swept away while trying to have fun with their pets suggests a session of Australians are still not serious about the severity of the storm. Here are five latest updates as the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has predicted a likely early morning landfall:

1. The Bureau of Meteorology at 7:00 PM local time said that Tropical Cyclone Alfred is slowly moving towards the South East Queensland coast. The centre of Alfred is expected to cross the coast on Friday night or very early Saturday morning, most likely between Noosa in Queensland and Coolangatta in the City of Gold Coast, also Queensland.
2. Massive swells have battered the coast as the tropical cyclone is fast approaching. As many as 25 evacuation centres have opened in Queensland as a large area between the Sunshine Coast to Byron Bay is expected to bear its brunt.
3. Residents of 16 areas including Lismore CBD, North Lismore, Lismore Showgrounds, Fingal Head and Tumbulgum have been asked by the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) to leave their homes for safety by 9 pm tonight. Experts expect Alfred to remain a Category 2 system when it hits the islands in Moreton Bay off Brisban before crossing the mainland as a Category 1.
4. Over 900 schools and several airports have been closed in Queensland and New South Wales ahead of the landfall. Panic buying was also reported in many parts after it changed course to start advancing toward land. Public transport systems also remain suspended in regions asked to brace for the storm.
5. Beach erosion was reported due to a storm surge in Gold Coast while around 10,000 homes between NSW’s Tweed Heads and Bulahdelah remains sans electricity, news.au said.