Overview

• Cyclone Alfred was downgraded to a category three storm on Saturday after briefly intensifying to category four earlier in the week.
• The cyclone is currently located approximately 600-750 kilometers off the Queensland coast, moving south at a slow pace.
• Hazardous conditions, including damaging surf, high tides, and strong winds, are impacting coastal areas from Townsville to the Gold Coast, prompting warnings for beach closures and potential coastal flooding.
• Authorities and emergency services are urging residents to prepare for possible power outages, flooding, and erosion, while sandbagging stations have been set up in vulnerable areas.
• The Bureau of Meteorology predicts the cyclone will continue moving southeast, staying offshore through next week, though its exact trajectory remains uncertain.