Brisbane largely escaped severe damage as Cyclone Alfred, a downgraded tropical cyclone, brought heavy rainfall, strong winds, and widespread power outages to southeast Queensland over the weekend. The storm caused significant disruption across the state, leaving hundreds of thousands without electricity.
Cyclone Alfred, which made landfall on Saturday as a tropical low after 16 days as a powerful cyclone, unleashed torrential rain, damaging winds, and flash flooding. According to energy provider Energex, approximately 316,540 residents were left without power, with the Gold Coast being the hardest-hit area. More than 112,000 people in the city were affected by outages.
While Brisbane avoided the worst of the storm, it still experienced rainfall and wind impacts. The storm also extended into northern New South Wales, creating hazardous conditions in towns such as Lismore.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the situation in Queensland and northern New South Wales as “very serious,” citing ongoing risks of flash flooding and strong winds. “Heavy rainfall, damaging wind gusts, and coastal surf impacts are expected to continue over the coming days,” Albanese said in a statement on Sunday as the storm moved further inland.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued warnings for continued heavy rainfall, which could lead to flash flooding in Brisbane and other regional centers, including Ipswich, the Sunshine Coast, and Gympie. Wind gusts of up to 90 km/h were reported in various parts of the state.
Meteorologist Dean Narramore noted that while Cyclone Alfred had weakened, it would continue to bring significant rainfall to southeast Queensland in the days ahead.
Brisbane Airport resumed operations on Sunday but cautioned that ongoing weather conditions might still disrupt flight schedules. Authorities are closely monitoring the power situation, with Energex warning that some areas could face prolonged outages due to damaged infrastructure.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli announced that around 1,000 schools, closed due to the storm, would be reassessed for reopening on Monday. However, schools on the Gold Coast, where damage was most severe, will remain closed. “Where it’s safe to do so, schools will reopen, but in the Gold Coast, power loss and transport issues remain major concerns,” Crisafulli said.
Tragically, the storm claimed at least one life in northern New South Wales, where a man drowned in floodwaters. Additionally, two Australian Defence Force vehicles collided while en route to assist residents in Lismore, resulting in injuries to several officers.
As Cyclone Alfred weakens and moves further inland, the threat of flooding, strong winds, and additional damage persists. Queensland authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant and follow all weather warnings, while also commending the community’s resilience in facing the ongoing challenges.
