Thu Mar 06 06:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Cyclone Alfred Threatens Australia’s East Coast, Prompts Mass Evacuation Warnings
**BRISBANE, Australia —** Australia’s southeastern coast is bracing for the impact of Tropical Cyclone Alfred, the first cyclone predicted to make landfall in the region in nearly 50 years. The slow-moving storm, currently located approximately 150 miles off the coast of Brisbane, is expected to hit late Friday or early Saturday.
Authorities have issued “prepare to evacuate” warnings for parts of Brisbane and surrounding areas, impacting tens of thousands of structures in low-lying zones vulnerable to flooding. Forecasters predict wind gusts of up to 95 miles per hour and dangerous storm surges. The Bureau of Meteorology confirmed this would be the first cyclone to make landfall on Queensland’s southeastern coast since 1974.
The impending storm has already prompted widespread closures. Over 900 schools and multiple airports are shut down across southern Queensland and northern New South Wales, with public transportation suspended. Panic buying has emptied grocery store shelves, and long lines formed for sandbags as the cyclone’s path shifted towards the mainland.
Despite the warnings, record-breaking swells have drawn surfers and spectators to the coast in recent days. Officials warn the storm’s slow movement could exacerbate the impact, prolonging rainfall and storm surges. Areas like Lismore, still recovering from devastating 2022 floods that claimed 22 lives, are again under threat.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has preemptively approved emergency federal funds for Queensland and New South Wales to support post-storm recovery efforts. The situation remains critical, with authorities urging residents in at-risk areas to heed evacuation warnings.
First Piper 