Overview

• Cyclone Alfred has slowed its approach toward the Queensland coast, delaying landfall to Friday afternoon and prolonging extreme weather conditions.
• Authorities have issued flood evacuation warnings for northern NSW towns, including Ballina, Tweed Heads, and Byron Bay, as rainfall totals could reach up to 800mm in some areas.
• Destructive winds of up to 155km/h and dangerous storm surges are anticipated, with significant risks of coastal erosion and flash flooding.
• Schools, public transport, and airports in affected regions have been closed, while emergency services and evacuation centers are preparing for the storm's impact.
• Experts highlight the storm's unusual westward trajectory and its potential link to climate change, as warm ocean waters sustain its intensity further south than typical cyclones.