# Cyclone Alfred threatens Brisbane, southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales
Event date: 2025-03-03
People across Brisbane, southeast Queensland and the Northern Rivers were warned to prepare for Tropical Cyclone Alfred as the storm moved toward a rare landfall on Australia's east coast, according to the supplied Guardian Australia report. The Bureau of Meteorology said the system was expected to retain category 2 strength and cross the coast between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast late on Thursday or early Friday. The scale of the warning reflects how unusual the threat is for this part of the country.
The report says the watch zone stretched from Sandy Cape south to Grafton, covering Brisbane, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast and Byron Bay. Island communities east of Brisbane were told to leave now or be ready to ride out the storm, while ferry and barge services could be suspended within 24 to 36 hours. Authorities also urged residents on houseboats and low-lying coastal areas to prepare early rather than wait for conditions to worsen.
Three hazards dominate the forecast: large surf and storm surge, damaging winds and heavy rainfall. The Guardian says some Queensland beaches recorded waves up to 14 meters, and there was particular concern for Golden Beach after surging tides cut through the northern tip of Bribie Island. The loss of that natural barrier increased fears that storm surge could hit more directly if the cyclone crossed at high tide.
Rainfall was also expected to be severe. The Bureau warned that parts of southeast Queensland and northeast New South Wales could receive 300 to 600 millimeters over multiple days. That matters because Brisbane is flood-prone and has been inundated repeatedly in the past 15 years. The report says the cyclone could affect up to four million people across a densely populated stretch of coastline.
For now, officials are pushing preparation before impact rather than waiting for emergency response after landfall. The source says school closures and event cancellations had not yet been decided, but marine operations had already stopped in some places and emergency services were moving resources into position. The verified picture is clear: Alfred was a serious and unusually southward cyclone threat, and authorities were treating it as such.
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