Furious winds and torrential rain forecasted from Tropical Cyclone Alfred have already wreaked havoc on travel plans, leading to widespread flight cancellations. Major airlines including Qantas, Jetstar, and Virgin Australia announced today the halting of all flights to and from Ballina Byron Gateway Airport due to the storm's strength and approaching danger.
Jetstar confirmed it was compelled to cancel multiple flights on March 5, 2025, including two from Sydney (JQ459, JQ461) and one from Melbourne (JQ465), due to "strong winds from the cyclone." The airline's three flights departing Ballina on the same day were axed as well. Qantas and Virgin Australia followed suit, canceling their own respective services (QF2062/QF2063, VA1139/VA1140) scheduled for today. Virgin has also announced the cancellation of its Thursday service (March 6).
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has issued stark warnings, indicating Tropical Cyclone Alfred is expected to make landfall near Brisbane as it intensifies. Forecasts suggest it could strike as a category 3 storm, with wind gusts potentially reaching up to 150 km/h (approximately 93 mph). "The system could intensify before crossing the coast... with wind gusts of up to 150km/h expected," according to BoM.
Regions along the southern Queensland coast, such as Gold Coast, Coolangatta, Byron Bay, and Ballina, are bracing for large, powerful waves, with gusts swaying from 60 to 80 mph possible. The cyclone appears to be moving very slowly at about 5 to 7 mph on average, causing sustained wind conditions over one area for extended periods, which compacts weather-related dangers.
Heavy rainfall is also anticipated. Reports indicate certain areas could see staggering water totals of up to 20 inches, or even more, within just days. This amount could lead to severe flooding, as it equates to two to four months' worth of rain falling in mere hours.
From late Tuesday to Wednesday, the highest one-third of the waves near southern Queensland and northern New South Wales are expected to reach heights between 20 and 30 feet. Individual wave maxima have the potential to run up to 50 feet, significantly contributing to dangerous sea conditions.
Fundamentally, the cyclone's slow approach over Thursday exacerbates the severity of the weather. It permits growth for waves and transitions current conditions at coastal areas, leading to increased erosion and storm surge threats. Flooding risk compounds with the inclement weather as thunderstorms are predicted alongside the cyclone's landfall. Localized rainfall could exceed 25 inches with regular March averages for Brisbane at just 4.3 inches and Byron Bay slightly below 7 inches.
Wind damage is another expected hazard. While water-related issues seem to dominate, strong winds present hazards of tapping trees and creating widespread power outages. Severe gusts are anticipated across regions from near Yamba, New South Wales, to Brisbane as the cyclone makes landfall on Thursday, March 6, 2025.
The cyclone's intensity may taper as it traverses inland; wind speeds are expected to decline rather steadily going from Friday through the weekend. Yet the fears stir surrounding the significant damage tropical cyclone impacts could assert on this densely populated region, where direct landfalls are less common.
With travel schedules already disrupted and dire weather tropical cyclone Alfred imposing on communities, residents are advised to stay tuned for updates as the situation continues to evolve. More to come as reports come rolling out alongside the storm.