Tropical Cyclone Alfred: Latest forecast, safety alerts and advice | 9 News Australia - video Dailymotion

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Tropical Cyclone Alfred was originally forecast to make landfall tonight or early Friday morning, it's now thought the storm could cross the coast later tomorrow or even Saturday. Our 9News reporters are standing by with the latest forecasts, safety alerts and advice on getting through this storm. | *Subscribe and 🔔: http://9Soci.al/KM6e50GjSK9*  ►*Chapters in this video:* 0:00 Cyclone Alfred impacts being felt as it nears coast 3:46  Tropical Cyclone Alfred's latest tracking data  5:03 Warning to beachgoers, surfers on the Gold Coast 6:29  Angry ocean, record swells ahead of Alfred 10:18 Bribie evacuation operation 12:08 Shelter for evacuees 13:23 Airports abandoned ahead of Cyclone Alfred arrival 16:41 Queensland premier provides update on Cyclone Alfred 18:36 NSW emergency warnings 19:24 Residents prepare for wild weather 20:30 Cyclone myths 21:59 Sunshine Coast in the firing line 23:35 Tropical Cyclone Alfred update  *Get more breaking news at 9News.com.au: http://9Soci.al/iyCO50GjSK6*  FOLLOW 9News Australia ► Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/9News/ ► Twitter: https://twitter.com/9NewsAUS ► Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/9news/  Join 9News for the latest in news and events that affect you in your local city, as well as news from across Australia and the world.  #9News #BreakingNews #NineNewsAustralia #9NewsAUS

Transcript

00:00Good evening from Manly Harbour on Brisbane's bayside where we are beginning to feel the

00:05effects of tropical cyclone Alfred.

00:08The system has slowed but is still heading this way and right now is expected to impact

00:12Brisbane's Bay Islands as a category 2 cyclone.

00:16That could happen late tomorrow night with a crossing on the mainland early Saturday.

00:20Online news reporters are standing by with up to the minute information for you from

00:24the latest forecasts to safety alerts and advice on getting through this storm.

00:29Josh Bavis begins our special cyclone coverage.

00:34Cyclone Alfred's ferocious opening act.

00:40And people can't stay away.

00:43People and their pets caught up in the action.

00:46The spectacular phenomena on display along the Gold Coast proving just too alluring for

00:51curious crowds.

00:56Some getting dangerously close to the action.

00:58Oh my god this is incredible.

01:01You don't want to be down on the sand or anywhere near that water at all.

01:04Beachside car parks disappearing in seconds.

01:07The powerful winds howling through the glitter strips high rises strong enough to send concrete

01:13tumbling down.

01:14And it's just exploded over the pavement all the way across the esplanade.

01:18We've already seen damaging wind gusts on those exposed coastal locations.

01:23Cyclone Alfred slowed down in its path towards us.

01:27It's now expected to cross Moreton Island and then head towards Bribie.

01:31By mid-afternoon one gust of 96 kilometres was recorded on Cape Moreton.

01:37Even stronger winds are expected tonight.

01:40The system is starting to pack a bit of a punch.

01:42Stradbroke Island's expected to cop the brunt of it first.

01:46It's already bringing down trees on the Tweed, swamping low-lying roads on the coast and

01:51swallowing tinnies.

01:53And it's the unknown.

01:54I've never been in one before and I don't know what to expect.

01:58We are doing the preparation to show Queenslanders how important it is that you do get ready

02:03and I have to say overwhelmingly the response has been remarkable.

02:07Alfred Storling giving more time to prepare sandbags now in all shapes and sizes.

02:13We're just getting garbage bags and going to the beach and getting sand.

02:17Power outages along the southern coast have already started and you can see why.

02:22Well, it's begun.

02:25This backyard in Varsity Lakes left in shreds.

02:28Energex is working as hard as they possibly can to restore power and they will continue

02:34to do so until it's unsafe for their workers to be out.

02:39Yachties are also coming down in Cleveland.

02:42A little north in Wynnum Manly, yachties are doing their final checks.

02:46When you're in a marina, the wind always sounds so much more scary with all the whistling.

02:51Richard Duffell will stay in the marina and ride it out.

02:54He was here during the deadly storms that swept through the bay in 2023.

02:59And you just zip up and hope for the best.

03:01Keep your fingers crossed.

03:02Yeah, get down on the knees and pray.

03:05Nearby cafes are prepared, but every day that goes by means lost income.

03:10We don't know when we're going to reopen, it's going to go Saturday, Sunday.

03:13Brisbane's CBD a ghost town.

03:16More than 1,000 schools remain closed.

03:19While it might appear calm at times now, once the cyclone approaches it could take up to

03:2310 hours to cross Moreton Bay.

03:26The wind, the rainfall, storm surge and flood risks remain and we will see those pick up

03:30as the system approaches.

03:32We've done all that we can.

03:34Now Queensland holds its breath.

03:36Josh Bavis, Nine News.

03:40Our weather expert Gary Youngbury is watching tropical cyclone Alfred's every move.

03:44Gary, what is the latest tracking data telling you?

03:49Well Melissa, we're starting to feel Alfred's presence right here at Burley Heads.

03:53Rains be getting heavier, more consistent.

03:55The ocean very angry.

03:57We've had some of those record swells you've heard measured 12 and a half metres now.

04:01It is still building but I can tell you that Alfred is still 200 kilometres east-north-east

04:06of where I am at Burley Heads at the moment.

04:09It's sped up slightly, travelling at 8 kilometres per hour.

04:12Still in a west-south-westerly direction but as we get into tomorrow evening it's expected

04:16to turn a little to the west-north-west and then cross up around that Bribie Island region.

04:22That could change with each tracking, Mac, but it is getting closer and we're feeling

04:26the rain as well.

04:28The weather experts have been getting quite heavy bursts of showers today and the radar

04:31shows that the rain will really intensify throughout tomorrow but the very heavy rain

04:37will continue through into the weekend and we are set to see heavy falls right through

04:42showers Monday, Tuesday, possibly even Wednesday next week.

04:46So Alfred, a Category 2 storm.

04:48It should weaken just on impacting the coast to a Category 1 but that really won't change

04:54the amount of rain that's set to fall over the coming days, Melissa.

04:59Gary, thank you.

05:00Now staying on the Gold Coast, we're going to head a little further south to Davina Smith

05:03at Corrumban.

05:04Davina, emergency warnings have been updated for Gold Coast residents tonight.

05:09Yeah, Melissa, the order has just gone out to prepare to take shelter tonight.

05:14Gold Coast City Council does not want residents out and about on the roads and that's because

05:18they're expecting these conditions that we're seeing now, the calm before the storm, to

05:22significantly deteriorate over the next 24 to 48 hours.

05:26Wind gusts of in excess of 155 k's per hour and it's the surf that is extraordinary.

05:31It has been such a spectacle on the Gold Coast.

05:34Here at Corrumban underneath the Viking Surf Club, it's one of the rare places where you

05:37can get physically out in the surf and still be safe.

05:41Unfortunately, there have been a lot of people up and down the coast who have been taking

05:44really unnecessary risks and police and council are reiterating those warnings to stay out

05:50of the water and to don't take the risk because they're putting their lives at risk and also

05:54emergency services.

05:56Thankfully though, a lot of people on the Gold Coast have taken today, the unexpected

06:00day off as time to get their homes ready.

06:03High rise in particular, windows being taped, sandbagging still unfolding on the coast.

06:08People literally taking sand from the beaches and what's been washed up onto the roads to

06:12protect their homes.

06:13But here at Corrumban Surf Club, a real spectacle tonight, lots of people here, the waves crashing

06:19over the rocks and it is a taste of just what's to come, the calm before the storm.

06:27A spectacular sight but dangerous, isn't it?

06:29Well, we're going to cross now to Luke Bradnum who's at Snapper Rocks.

06:32Luke, a record was broken on the seaway today.

06:37That's right, Melissa.

06:38Yes, we did suspect that Elphaba would provide us with the biggest swell we've ever seen

06:42here on the Gold Coast and that is exactly what has happened.

06:45Since records began today out of Main Beach, a 12.3 metre wave recorded, quite incredible.

06:51It is as dangerous as we've ever seen and the scary part is it's about to get a whole

06:56lot more dangerous.

06:58Tomorrow we're going to see with those winds getting even stronger, the swell get bigger

07:02than what we had today.

07:03It means more erosion for our beaches.

07:05Now down at Debar in the last 24 hours, the erosion has been quite prevalent.

07:11We've lost 8 metres of Debar in the last 24 hours and we're only just starting to really

07:17feel the full impacts of Elfrid.

07:19You mentioned the dangerous conditions.

07:20Well, where I am down here at Froggies, at Snapper Rocks, a short time ago, young guys

07:25were dicing with death, getting crashed with waves, a brick wall saving them.

07:31It's time, Melissa, that we stay out of the water now.

07:34It's far too dangerous to get anywhere near the water's edge.

07:39It's good advice, Luke.

07:41Well, our islands, they will be the first to feel Elfrid's fury.

07:44Claire Todd-Hunter is on North Straboat for us tonight.

07:47Claire, I'm sure they're apprehensive, but is the community ready?

07:50Well, they're as ready as they can be, Melissa, but grateful for the extra day they've had

07:56from Cyclone Elfrid's delay to prepare their homes even further and just put those extra

08:01measures in place.

08:02We're already hearing there are 700 homes blacked out tonight on Coochie Mudlow Island

08:06between here and Cleveland.

08:08I can imagine with these winds, as wild as they are, as you can see tonight, it's not

08:12much longer until the same happens here.

08:15It hasn't deterred residents, though, from coming out and taking a look at the sights

08:18in these wild conditions today.

08:21Point Lookout's South Gorge Cove, resembling a winter wonderland.

08:28Piles of sea foam blowing through the air, brewed up by ferocious swell.

08:35The sight drawing in locals from all over North Stradbroke Island.

08:38That's pretty cool.

08:39I think it's snowing.

08:40Look at downed residents brought outside by deceptively blue skies, but the early impacts

08:45of Elfrid are still being felt in wild winds.

08:48I made a right mess of my hair, look at it already.

08:51We've never seen this, and yeah, we're from Italy and never seen a cyclone in Italy.

08:59And yeah, pretty excited.

09:01It's an unexpected first week for the new owners of Whale Watch Resort.

09:04Dozens of reservations cancelled.

09:07We settled yesterday, yesterday afternoon, so do you want to buy a cheap place?

09:13Today spent locking down units, reinforcing doors and windows for protection from gale

09:18force winds.

09:19A big gust came in, the handle broke off and the whole glass bulged out.

09:28The biggest concern is if this comes in, it'll go take the furniture with it.

09:33Becky Maloney doesn't live on the island, but treasures her family's Point Lookout holiday

09:39home.

09:40I didn't really want to come over, but was a bit concerned about the house and just wanted

09:44to secure it.

09:45The extra preparation time today, allowing for extra measures.

09:48I'm just taping the windows, it won't stop them breaking, but if they do break, the clean

09:52up will be easier.

09:53Pre-cooking more meals too, in anticipation of a blackout, moving furniture inside and

09:59filling up the wheelie bin with water.

10:01I can bucket water out of that to flush the toilet if we do lose power.

10:05How long she'll remain on the island, unclear, as Stratty buckles in for a wild ride.

10:11Claire Todd-Hunter, Nine News.

10:15Police recruits have gone door to door on parts of Bribie Island in an evacuation operation.

10:20Hattaya Gripski is on Bribie tonight.

10:22Hattaya, the time to leave, it is just about over.

10:28It really is, Melissa, and we have started to see the conditions here on Bribie Island

10:32really worsen over the last few hours.

10:35While TMR has said that they're not going to be closing the Bribie Bridge to traffic

10:40pre-emptively, they have said that as these winds pick up, these gale force winds really

10:46do pick up, these boats could lose their moorings and they could actually damage the bridge

10:51and isolate this community.

10:53That's the main concern here, and that's why we saw about 50 police recruits going door

10:58to door to people in those most low-lying areas, those areas at risk of the storm surges,

11:04urging them to evacuate where possible.

11:07For those who chose not to do so, though, today was really the last day that they could

11:11prepare, those same police recruits actually at a sandbagging station filling up those

11:16sandbags for those people who were still in need of them.

11:20We spoke to a number of people on the ground today about how they're feeling about Cyclone,

11:24Tropical Cyclone Alfred making landfall, here's what they had to say.

11:29I'm actually thinking I'm going to bunker down in the shop just to protect my baby.

11:33They've been door knocking as well, talking to residents and making sure everybody knows

11:37how severe this situation could be.

11:39Everyone's banging together like you can see here, I've never seen so many police in my

11:42whole life.

11:43It's just awesome, you know?

11:44It's good to see they're all out, you know?

11:47We need them.

11:48They're wonderful.

11:50Melissa, for those people who are choosing to evacuate, they're being asked to stay with

11:55family and friends where possible, but if that's not an option, they're being asked

11:59to go to the Caboolture Evacuation Centre.

12:04Thank you for that, Hataya, and as you just mentioned, evacuation centres, they are open

12:08tonight.

12:09For people needing somewhere to shelter, Anna Rawlings joins us from Caboolture.

12:13Anna, where can people go and what should they bring?

12:17Well, Melissa, there are now 25 evacuation centres and refuge shelters open across South

12:24East Council areas, including here at Caboolture Memorial Hall.

12:27Now, people don't need to call ahead or notify them they're coming.

12:30You can arrive and then expect to fill out some registration paperwork.

12:33As for what to bring, that is very much the essentials, so things like medication and

12:38personal papers.

12:39Now, each facility is different.

12:42For example, this one has sleeping facilities and a team of volunteers are already here

12:47helping those in need.

12:49Our key role is providing meals and substance for those that are in need.

12:56We're doing hot food.

12:57We try and give them a variety and we try and give them good quality food.

13:01Now, other facilities are much more basic.

13:04For example, the R&A Showgrounds has no sleeping or cooking facilities.

13:07It's simply a shelter, a structure that has been picked to keep people safe as that cyclone

13:13passes over, Melissa.

13:14But for the moment, the advice still is, if you can, shelter with friends and family first.

13:21Good advice, Anna.

13:23For now, let's go straight to Brisbane Airport, where Ebony Cavallaro joins us.

13:27Ebony, flights in and out of the city have been grounded.

13:32That's right, Melissa.

13:33Two commercial airlines suspended their flights in and out of Brisbane this afternoon.

13:38And it is not yet known exactly when they will resume.

13:42At the moment, we know that the airlines are planning for Sunday, but a lot of that really

13:46depends on what happens in the next 48 hours.

13:48Now, the airport is technically still open at this stage, but right now, that really

13:53is just for things like medical emergencies.

13:56As you can see behind me, we are pretty much the only people here, apart from a few airport

14:01staff.

14:03A sea of red on departure and arrival boards.

14:06All flights in and out of Brisbane cancelled.

14:09The airport even quieter than during COVID.

14:12QF1910 from Canberra, the last flight to touch down this afternoon.

14:18I have a wife and a three-year-old and a baby that was just born, so I was pretty keen to

14:22get back to make sure, you know, if the storm does do anything, I'm here to help.

14:26Earlier, a last-minute rush, people scrambling to leave the cyclone zone while they could.

14:31We come from rural Victoria, and that's where we want to go back to.

14:34This family caught an Uber from the Gold Coast after their flight from Koolangatta was cancelled

14:39when the airport closed yesterday.

14:41We had a flight from the Gold Coast that was supposed to depart today, but then we moved

14:46that to tomorrow, but we thought that tomorrow's probably going to get cancelled.

14:49So now we're flying, we booked one this morning to fly from here.

14:52I think we might make it, but we're not sure yet.

14:54Planes parked away for safety.

14:56They'll be heading off empty, no passengers on board.

14:59The CBD deserted.

15:01It's quite quiet.

15:02It's a bit of a ghost town.

15:04Stores closed.

15:05Some boarded up and sandbagged.

15:07This convenience store, one of the few shops still trading.

15:11We stay open until like, I see it's safe until now.

15:13If it's not safe, we close, yeah, we leave.

15:16Streets, usually bumper-to-bumper with traffic, virtually empty.

15:20No buses on the Victoria Bridge or in the busway.

15:24Brisbane more blustery than blue-skied, not what these tourists were expecting.

15:29It's very quiet.

15:30People seem quite relaxed.

15:32This newborn from Melbourne will spend her first cyclone bunkering down in a city hotel

15:36with mum.

15:37I feel alright about it.

15:39I mean, I'm her food source, so that's handy for her I guess, as long as I've got water

15:42then I'll be okay and she'll be okay.

15:45Transport around the South East now practically impossible without a private car.

15:50Authorities warning no one should be on the roads once the wind and rain intensifies.

15:55My message to Queenslanders is if you don't have to be on the road, the best place is

15:58at home.

15:59Trains parked at stations, it's unclear when they'll be operational again.

16:03Greyhounds suspending its services too.

16:07While the RSPCA is closed until at least next week, animals here at the shelter will be

16:12cared for around the clock by a small team who will stay here with the animals to make

16:18sure they stay safe.

16:19We've amped up all of our foster parents, we've even got some new foster parents on

16:23board and got as many animals out of the shelter into homes as possible.

16:26We've managed to get all of our horses into foster care that have nice secure shelters

16:31for all of our ponies to spend the storm in.

16:34Around 350 animals will bunker down at the Wacol Centre.

16:38Ebonie Cavallaro, Nine News.

16:43Let's go live now to emergency headquarters at Kedron with an update from Premier David

16:46Crisafulli.

16:47Premier, thank you for joining us.

16:49You have just walked out of the latest briefing from the Weather Bureau.

16:53What did they tell you?

16:56That the system continues to head towards the coast and we've got a bit of a reprieve

17:00during the day.

17:02It did circle on itself overnight which brought us a little bit more time but it is approaching

17:07and Queenslanders are experienced.

17:09Whether it's wind or rain, we've seen those swells emerge and indeed that will lead to

17:15flooding.

17:16Everyone will have some level of impact but I really believe that people have overwhelmingly

17:20done the little things right.

17:22I know we've spent a lot of time preparing, we've pre-positioned everything from generators

17:27to staff and I think Queenslanders have responded really, really well.

17:30So I've got every faith we'll get through this if we just stay connected, keep doing

17:35the right things and we'll come through the other end.

17:39I'm not sure if you've seen it, Premier, but there has been some shocking footage of people

17:43in the surf today putting themselves in harm's way.

17:46Do you think people are becoming a bit complacent because the system has slowed?

17:52Well, they're not just putting themselves in harm's way but they're putting their emergency

17:55services personnel in harm's way.

17:57The vast majority of people are doing the right thing but there's no doubt we are starting

18:01to see the impacts.

18:02We've had swells of over 12 metres off the Gold Coast.

18:06We've had wind gusts of nearly 100 kilometres at some of the islands.

18:10The system is coming towards us but if you do the right thing, if you don't do silly

18:14things like that, if you prepare your home, if you stay connected and have a plan, overwhelmingly

18:20people get through this and I have confidence that that will occur.

18:24Premier, thank you so much for your time tonight.

18:28Across the border, thousands of homes have already lost power and major flood warnings

18:32have been issued with the worst conditions expected from tomorrow.

18:36Alex Heineke is in Byron Bay for us tonight.

18:38Alex, which areas are of most concern?

18:41Well, Melissa, there are 10 areas right now that evacuation orders are in place.

18:48We have hundreds of northeastern New South Wales residents leaving their home in this

18:52weather and they have been ordered to do so by the SES.

18:55They include areas in Fingal Head, just south of the Queensland border, and Lismore as well.

19:01These residents have about an hour and a half left.

19:04Their window of opportunity is closing to evacuate their homes.

19:08After that, authorities say they cannot protect them if their properties flood.

19:14Northeastern New South Wales beaches are an absolute mess.

19:16Melissa, it appears whatever side of the border you're on tonight, we're all in the same fight.

19:22Cleveland will be among the first mainland communities to feel the full impact of Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

19:28Lily Greer is there tonight.

19:29Lily, are conditions picking up?

19:33Yeah, they certainly are, Melissa.

19:35Every time we've turned our camera on today, we really don't know what sort of weather we're going to bring you.

19:38Five minutes ago, it was the calm before the storm and now we can really feel that wind starting to pick up here

19:44and we're starting to get a drizzle again.

19:46The biggest worry for people on this long, skinny stretch of real estate in Cleveland right now is a storm surge.

19:52They fear this cyclone is going to hit around high tide, which means houses here, which have beach in the backyard

19:58and ocean just across the road, they're fearing that the water's going to come at their homes from both sides.

20:03So they are fortifying their properties.

20:05People right along this street have sandbagged their homes.

20:08Some people are using hardier materials like wood and building materials,

20:12but certainly it has been all systems go here in Cleveland.

20:16Melissa, people here, they pay to have this sort of proximity to the ocean.

20:19They love these water views, but I can tell you tonight, this close view of the ocean has never felt so menacing.

20:28I'm sure it is. Lily, thank you for that.

20:30Energex and government agencies, they have been forced to correct several false claims about the cyclone and planned responses.

20:37As Tim Avia explains, one room in particular has spread right across Queensland.

20:43With Alfred about to hit, social media is in overdrive.

20:47And there have even been reports of Facebook search results for the cyclone being manipulated to not include news stories,

20:54all people's posts, but instead just pages about climate science.

20:59Fake rumors are also circulating in group chats like this one,

21:03saying my neighbor who lives behind me is quite high up in Energex.

21:07She has just given me an FYI that they will be shutting off the power to Brisbane late Thursday night,

21:13early Friday morning, right before the cyclone hits to reduce the risk of fallen power lines being live.

21:20Now, Energex says this is categorically false and they weren't impressed about having to correct the hoax.

21:28We don't turn off power in these sort of outages. Mother Nature does enough.

21:32On community pages, some people are also wondering whether to open their windows during the cyclone to reduce air pressure inside the home.

21:41The official advice is to keep all windows closed as leaving them open could result in injuries from flying debris

21:49and would also mean you having to constantly monitor the wind direction.

21:55Returning to our cyclone coverage now, and let's head to the Sunshine Coast where we find Adam Jackson in Mooloolaba,

22:01Adam, a rescue operation has unfolded on the water this afternoon.

22:07Yeah, it took place in the Noosa North Shore after a jet ski rider became in distress in rough seas,

22:13had to shoot up a flare to alert authorities. Emergency services crews came out.

22:17Fortunately, all involved were rescued safely and brought back to shore.

22:21Our time we're reminded to listen to authorities.

22:23Even behind us here at the moment, we've seen quite a few people in the surf at Mooloolaba,

22:27but undoubtedly the biggest cause for concern on the Sunshine Coast at the moment,

22:30the low lying areas to the south near Caloundra due to the issues they're experiencing with the pumice stone passage,

22:36usually protected by the northern tip of Bribie Island, it is broken off.

22:40So further erosion and disintegration will no doubt occur with the subsequent storm surge that we'll see in the next few days,

22:46combined with some of those cyclonic winds, a top priority that was discussed this afternoon by the local disaster management group.

22:54This is the first time we've experienced this kind of a storm or cyclone, clearly,

23:00where that passage is open and you'll get that ocean coming straight through.

23:04So that's why it is a concern. It is because it's a low lying area.

23:10Another major concern highlighted by the mayor today, locals filling up sandbags at local beaches with the local sand.

23:16No need to do that.

23:17Council insists 45,000 more sandbags to go around here as we face a few uncertain days.

23:24Melissa, the only thing we know for sure, there's not going to be much sunshine on the Sunshine Coast the next few days.

23:30No, there isn't for the whole Sunshine State, well, the southeast corner anyway.

23:34Adam, thank you.

23:35Good evening from Brisbane to Byron and inland to Lismore.

23:38They've waited with bated breath.

23:41Tonight, the news cyclone Alfred's arrival will be a little later than expected, but that's not necessarily a good thing.

23:47The system could be gaining strength as it hovers just off the coast.

23:52Millions of people tonight being told to hunker down.

23:55The wild weather we're already seeing just the beginning.

23:59Mark Burrows begins our coverage.

24:02The seas are boiling off the Gold Coast, catching out one woman who nearly lost her dog in the storm surge.

24:09Corrumban Surf Club and the waves are inching towards the road.

24:13At Snapper Rocks on the border, two boys nearly washed away.

24:22Wave watching is becoming dangerous.

24:30It looks like Hawaii, like people get swept off the beach all the time, so

24:33if you're anywhere near the ocean, just keep your eye on it.

24:36Alfred still brewing off the coast has spooked an entire city.

24:40A thousand schools closed, the Brisbane CBD a ghost town, empty offices with public transport shut down.

24:49Feels like COVID, but airy and strange.

24:52There's literally nothing open, even Hungry Jack's is closed.

24:55A steady number of airlines, including Qantas, have stopped using Brisbane Airport

25:00in anticipation of winds exceeding 100 kilometres an hour.

25:04Already, Alfred has whipped up an ocean of sea foam on North Stradbroke Island off Brisbane.

25:11While many were getting off the island, Becky Maloney returned.

25:14It won't stop them breaking, but if they do break, it will be less dangerous and

25:18the cleanup will be easier. I won't be looking for shards of glass for months afterwards.

25:22This is the cyclone viewed from the International Space Station

25:26and monitoring Alfred's every turn and twist, the National Situational Room in Canberra.

25:33You can see a bit of a change since yesterday. It's slowed down significantly and nearly stalled overnight.

25:38The cyclone might have stalled, but it's not weakening,

25:41now set to smash the Queensland coast Saturday morning.

25:46The PM announcing the Army is on standby with a fleet of high clearance vehicles.

25:53I intend operating out of here for coming days is probably the best place I can be to make sure

26:01that there is seamless activity between New South Wales and Queensland.

26:05The Bureau of Meteorology says the cyclone could take up to six hours to slowly cross the coast.

26:13We are expecting, you know, two days, perhaps two and a half days worth of rainfall as this system

26:18both approaches and then weakens and moves inland.

26:21Brisbane might be deserted, but it seems everyone is on the Gold Coast,

26:25taking in the once in a generation view. A 12 metre wave was recorded off Main Beach

26:32and this was the scene at Burley as waves chewed their way into the dunes.

26:37What will it look like in three days' time? Mark Burrows, Nine News.

26:44All right, let's bring in Nine's Davina Smith on the Gold Coast.

26:46Davina, you have breaking news on the cyclone forecast.

26:52Yeah, Pete, good evening to you. The Bureau has just updated their forecast.

26:55They are saying that Tropical Cyclone Alfred is on a collision course with Moreton Island.

26:59That is Saturday morning at 4am. It will cross the coast and hit just north of Brisbane.

27:04That's a problem if it does that because it will end up dumping a huge amount of rainfall

27:08into the catchments around Brisbane. This, though, is the calm before the storm on the Gold Coast.

27:13Can you believe we still have another day and a half to go before this system crosses the coast?

27:17It has been pounding the beaches, erosion, huge waves, 12 metres measured off the coast.

27:23There's sea foam coming in here, huge waves, and it is an incredible spectacle.

27:28The advice to everyone is to stay home if you can, but it's hard to stay away on the Gold Coast

27:33when people here love the waves and want to watch this unfold.

27:36Thank you. Amber's with me in the studio. Amber, how rare is this cyclone event?

27:41Good evening to you, Pete. We're actually seeing fewer cyclones than 50 years ago,

27:44but the ones that do form are becoming more intense. We can see this with the ratio of

27:49severe cyclones in red to non-severe cyclones in blue going up over time.

27:54They're also getting stronger. Cyclone Alfred will cross as a Category 2,

27:58bringing winds of up to 164 kilometres an hour,

28:02but a Category 5 sees winds of more than 280 kilometres an hour.

28:07So far, Byron Bay has clocked the highest wind gust in New South Wales today,

28:10reaching 104 kilometres an hour, while Dorigo, near Coffs Harbour,

28:14has seen the most rain, with nearly 300 millimetres since yesterday.

28:19Sydney won't escape the extreme conditions. After it crosses, Alfred will be downgraded

28:24and start tracking southward across inland Queensland and New South Wales,

28:28bringing torrential rain on Sunday and Monday,

28:31possibly as much as 120 millimetres in just 48 hours, Pete.

28:36Amber, thank you.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred: Latest forecast, safety alerts and advice | 9 News Australia

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