A tropical cyclone off northeast Australia has a high probability of making landfall along a highly populated stretch of the coast, according to forecasts.
Tropical Cyclone Alfred is expected to turn toward Queensland’s coast over the weekend, with weather models predicting its trajectory up to two weeks in advance.
According to these models, the cyclone is likely to make landfall next week between Brisbane and Townsville—a densely populated coastal region spanning over 1,000 km. This area includes cities such as Mackay, Rockhampton, and Bundaberg, as well as several popular tourist destinations.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM), which provides cyclone track forecasts up to four days in advance, stated on Wednesday morning that Alfred was located about 1,000 km east of Townsville in the northern Coral Sea and was slow-moving.
The cyclone is currently at category two intensity, with wind gusts reaching up to 140 km/h, and is expected to strengthen to category three by Thursday.
“There is high confidence that Alfred will remain well off the Queensland coast until late in the week. However, the track remains highly uncertain over the weekend, with a risk of Alfred moving closer to the Queensland coast,” the BoM stated.
Communities in and around Townsville, which experienced catastrophic flooding earlier in February, are still in the process of recovery and cleanup, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), as reported by Xinhua news agency.
The Global Forecast System (GFS) predicts Alfred will track west over the weekend and make landfall in Central Queensland by Tuesday. Meanwhile, the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), often regarded as one of the world’s most reliable models, anticipates landfall between Townsville and Bundaberg by Sunday.
Queensland is already experiencing the effects of the cyclone, with the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast facing intensifying wind gusts and powerful waves.
IANS