Tropical Cyclone Alfred is rapidly approaching the Australian east coast, prompting urgent evacuations and heightened emergency preparations across New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland. The cyclone, categorized as level two, is expected to make landfall early Friday morning, March 7, 2025, between Queensland's Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast, with destructive winds and heavy rainfall forecast for the upcoming nights.
On Wednesday, March 5, 2025, Queensland Premier David Crisafulli confirmed the evacuation of only a "very small number" of residents so far. He emphasized the seriousness of the event at a press conference, urging Queenslanders to take the warnings seriously: "We're telling Queenslanders this is going to be serious." He reassured residents of the government’s communication plans as the situation evolves and asked them to prepare for the impending storm.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) reported Tropical Cyclone Alfred was located 430km east of the Gold Coast, with winds expected to escalate as the system approaches. Jane Golding of the BoM warned of the potential for extensive flooding and dangerous flash floods, predicting rainfall and wind intensity to peak on Thursday night, March 6, and Friday morning. “We can expect major flooding, as well as destructive winds,” she stated.
Emergency services have made preparations to assist vulnerable communities, focusing on the Northern Rivers region of NSW. Premier Chris Minns stated during his updates on Wednesday: “We are speaking with vulnerable communities about whether they should evacuate before Alfred makes landfall.” He expressed concern about the potential impact, likening it to the devastating 2022 natural disaster experienced in Lismore, where nearly 4,000 homes were rendered uninhabitable.
Governor Minns noted, "Our planning is for something akin to the 2022 natural disaster, but I hope it is less than what we faced back then.” The state is bracing for "three natural disaster events at once,” as faced during the last significant cyclone recovery, with severe winds, heavy rain, and high tides expected. The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) Commissioner, Mike Wassing, warned on Wednesday afternoon, saying, "By Thursday afternoon, it will be too late for communities to leave. We need people to bunker down as the cyclone crosses." He underscored the urgency of the situation, predicting wind gusts of up to 120 km/h across southeast Queensland and northeastern NSW.
The cyclone's path has prompted the setup of evacuation centers across NSW. Premier Minns announced seven centers would open to assist residents needing to relocate, particularly those living on low-lying ground, stating: “If you need to move, we prefer you to do it early.” The SES is adamant about the safety of every resident, advising them to heed all warnings and stay prepared. NSW Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib added, "We want to cover all bases... the people of NSW need to be aware of the potential risks."
To help alleviate potential flooding and damage, The Australian Defence Force is on standby. Defence Minister Richard Marles confirmed more than 300,000 sandbags had been distributed to communities, indicating readiness for airlifts and supporting frontline efforts. Marles stated, “We are ready to do everything required to respond as needed. This includes door-to-door assistance and evacuations if flooding occurs.”
The impact of Cyclone Alfred is felt beyond just the evacuation needs; 122 schools across the affected regions were closed on Wednesday and would remain shut on Thursday, March 6, to accommodate residents preparing for cyclone impacts. The MP for Lismore, Janelle Saffin, reported flight cancellations to and from Ballina on Wednesday owing to high winds. She reassured customers of options for rebooking flights flexibly amid the chaos.
The cyclone's fast approach and severe wind gusts have caused both logistical nightmares and community caution. A supermarket near the Queensland border experienced product shortages early Wednesday, as community members rushed to stock supplies. Local residents shared images of bare shelves online, contributing to the urgency surrounding adequate preparations.
With the cyclone predicted to wreak havoc, Premier Minns called for calm amid panic-buying urges, highlighting good logistical lines with major supermarkets. His aim is to balance preparation without inciting alarm: “We are doing as much as we can to prepare, but we do not want to create panic, just awareness.” The focus remained firmly on ensuring public safety as the path of Tropical Cyclone Alfred solidifies over the coming days.
Officials are committed to continuous updates as the cyclone progresses, and they urge communities to download the Hazards Near Me app for immediate safety alerts. Dib encouraged residents to remain vigilant, stating, “This is the moment before the storm, and we want to cover all bases.” The gravity of the situation has returned memories of past disasters, but officials remain hopeful of mitigating the cyclone’s impact through strategic planning and community cooperation.