Cyclone Alfred’s Western Edge Hits Australia’s East Coast
Cyclone Alfred threatens Queensland and New South Wales
Table of Contents
Millions are impacted as a rare storm approaches the Australian coast.
Tropical Cyclone Alfred in Ballina, NSW, on March 5, 2025.”>The western edge of Cyclone Alfred is already affecting AustraliaS east coast. Weather experts predict the cyclone will cross the coast early on Friday morning,bringing damaging wind gusts,storms,and heavy rainfall to a large warning zone spanning Queensland and New South Wales.
Landfall is expected between the Gold Coast and the southern parts of the Wide bay region as early as Thursday evening. Currently, Alfred is a category 2 cyclone.
The bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued a tropical cyclone warning zone extending from Double Island Point in Queensland to Grafton in New South Wales.This includes Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine coast, Byron Bay, and Ballina, but excludes Grafton.
Tropical Cyclone Alfred will continue its approach towards the southeast Queensland coast, with the far western edge already impacting the coast from about Coolangatta to Ballina.
Alfred is a category 2 cyclone,and is forecast to maintain this intensity as it continues to approach the southeast Queensland coast.
The BOM further stated:
The center of Alfred is expected to cross the coast during Friday, most likely between maroochydore and Coolangatta.
Damaging wind gusts of 120 kilometers per hour are already developing near the coast from Coolangatta to ballina, according to the BOM.
The forecast includes the potential for even stronger winds:
Destructive wind gusts of up to 155 kilometers per hour may develop about coastal and island locations near and to the south of the track, possibly as far south as about Cape Byron, late Thursday or early Friday as Alfred’s destructive core approaches and crosses the coast.
Facebook Addresses Search Result Issues
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, acknowledged and resolved an issue where search results for “Cyclone Alfred” were blocked or hidden. The company attributed this to a “technical issue.”
Facebook is a critical dialog platform for emergency coverage in Australia, facilitating the broadcast of evacuation orders and other vital updates to residents during crises.
Meta’s data indicates that over 300,000 accounts and pages on Facebook have posted about Cyclone Alfred. However, users searching for information on the platform encountered empty or unrelated results on Wednesday.
A Meta spokesperson stated:
Facebook has not intentionally blocked or hidden search results relating to Cyclone Alfred.
The spokesperson added:
We did experience a technical issue, which our teams have been working to resolve, and relevant information should now be available for most users.
Meta concluded with an apology:
We apologise for the mistake and hope everyone stays safe.
Cyclone Alfred: Your questions Answered
As Cyclone Alfred approaches queensland and new South Wales, it’s natural to have questions about its impact and what to expect. This Q&A provides essential information to help you stay informed and prepared.
Key Facts About Cyclone Alfred
What is the current status of Cyclone Alfred?
As of March 5, 2025, Cyclone Alfred is a Category 2 cyclone. Its western edge is already impacting the east coast of Australia.
Where is Cyclone Alfred expected to make landfall?
Landfall is anticipated between the Gold Coast and the southern parts of the Wide Bay region, potentially as early as Thursday evening. The moast likely point of coastal crossing is between Maroochydore and Coolangatta.
Which areas are under a tropical cyclone warning?
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued a tropical cyclone warning zone extending from Double Island Point in Queensland to Grafton in New South Wales. This includes:
brisbane
Gold Coast
Sunshine Coast
Byron Bay
Ballina
Grafton is excluded from the warning zone.
How strong are the expected wind gusts?
Damaging wind gusts of 120 kilometers per hour are already developing near the coast from Coolangatta to Ballina. Destructive wind gusts of up to 155 kilometers per hour may develop about coastal and island locations near and to the south of the track, possibly as far south as about Cape Byron, late Thursday or early Friday.
Understanding Cyclone Categories and Impacts
What does it mean for Cyclone Alfred to be a Category 2 cyclone?
While the article states that Cyclone Alfred is a Category 2 cyclone, it would be helpful to have more information regarding what this classification specifically means in terms of wind speeds, potential damage, etc.
What kind of damage can be expected from Cyclone Alfred?
Cyclone Alfred is expected to bring:
Damaging wind gusts
storms
Heavy rainfall
What are the potential coastal hazards?
The article refers to coastal hazards, saying, “For more information about coastal hazards refer to warnings at …”, without elaborating.