South-east Queensland is in the direct firing line of Tropical Cyclone Alfred, the latest modelling showing a possible crossing through the heart of Brisbane this week.
The system weakened to a category 1 storm yesterday but is expected to ramp back up to potentially a category 2 before it makes landfall on Thursday.
Even at reduced intensity, Alfred churned up massive seas at the weekend that saw sand at some beaches eaten away, and gave an early indication of the intense winds and huge rainfall that has millions bracing.
The Bureau of Meteorology expects Alfred to cross the coast directly in line with Brisbane, but it could do so as high far north as Gympie or as far south as northern NSW, 9News Queensland weather presenter Garry Youngberry said.
The southern side of the storm is expected to dump up to 500 millimetres of rain when it makes landfall, whilst the northern side will cop up to 100 millimetres.
Cyclone Alfred whipped up wild surf and ate away large parts of the shoreline over the weekend as dozens of beaches from Agnes Water in Gladstone down to Currumbin on the Gold Coast were closed.
The largest waves were 16.9 metres off the Fraser Coast, with multiple waves above 10 metres, Youngberry said.
As well as eroding beaches the storm caused abnormally high tides, with water seen lapping at the Caloundra Power Boat Club on the Sunshine Coast.
On K’Gari, residents faced gale force winds and campers were warned to return to the mainland to avoid being caught by Alfred.
“It’s blowing up really bad now,” K’gari resident Kev Hockey said.
“We haven’t really experienced these sort of conditions, certainly not in our adult life.”
There are fears for Pumicestone Passage homes, particularly at Golden Beach, as the ocean pushes through a fragile protective sandbar on the northern tip of Bribie Island.
The Navy was working to reach a Lithuanian rower caught up in the system in the Coral Sea while on a solo journey from San Diego to Brisbane since August.
Premier David Crisafulli asked locals to prepare.
“I’m mindful that there is a big challenge there because of how severe the breakthrough has been in recent times and the prospect of those winds with big tides,” he said.
“I know this is not a frequent occurrence and there may be Queenslanders who can be forgiven for thinking that this is something that doesn’t occur well history shows that is does.
“We’re just asking people to just be prepared and heed the warnings, do what you can to get ready, and you need to know that we’ve done the same.”
Sandbagging stations are open at key locations across the south-east, and Queenslanders encouraged to do all they can now to prepare their homes for heavy rainfall.
That includes cleaning gutters, securing loose items and ensuring they have food, water and batteries.
The Bureau of Meteorology warned Monday could bring wild weather.
“Tropical Cyclone Alfred is forecast to move southwards, roughly parallel to the Queensland coast during Sunday and weaken a little further, before moving more to the southeast during Monday,” the bureau said.
“Alfred is then expected to slow down and is likely to turn westward from Tuesday, moving back towards the southern Queensland coast.”
Source Credit: 9 News Queensland