Erratic Cyclone Approaches Eastern Australia

A tropical cyclone, described as “erratic,” has been slowly creeping towards Australia’s eastern coast, bringing intense rainfall and record-breaking waves to a region rarely impacted by typhoons. Tropical Cyclone Alfred, located 250 kilometers (155 miles) east of Brisbane on Thursday afternoon, is moving unpredictably, and forecasts indicate the storm’s path is becoming increasingly difficult to predict.

The storm is posing a significant threat to over four million people along a 400-kilometer (250-mile) stretch of coastline, with the worst of the weather expected to hit in the coming days. “We’re already seeing gales developing on the coastal fringe,” said Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Sarah Scully. “There have been very large waves and powerful swells, generated by Alfred lingering in the Coral Sea and creating a lot of wave energy.”

A massive 12.4-meter (40-foot) wave was recorded on the Gold Coast, south of Brisbane, marking the largest swell ever documented at that location. Despite the dangerous conditions, some daring surfers paddled out to ride the giant waves, disregarding the potential for hefty fines of up to $10,000 for reckless behavior. “I am just staggered that people would be so stupid. It is a huge act of stupidity,” said acting Gold Coast mayor Donna Gates.

Initially, Cyclone Alfred was expected to make landfall late Thursday evening, but the slow-moving storm, moving at just 7 kilometers per hour (4 mph), is now predicted to hit land late Friday or early Saturday. This delay provides coastal communities with additional time to prepare, including stacking sandbags and stockpiling food. However, it also means that the storm’s outer edges will continue to bring wild weather to the region. “It will mean that the coastal areas are exposed for a longer period of time,” Scully explained.

As of Thursday, some areas had already received more than 200 millimeters (8 inches) of rain. The cyclone is expected to make landfall near Brisbane, marking the first cyclone to strike the area in over 50 years. “There’s a lot of people in harm’s way here. We’re talking about something like four-and-a-half million Australians,” said senior government minister Jim Chalmers. “It’s rare for a cyclone to be this far south and threaten such a huge population area.”

Cyclone Alfred has also caused widespread disruptions. Strong winds knocked out power to more than 4,000 homes, according to utility company Essential Energy. In response to the storm, over 900 schools in Queensland and northern New South Wales were closed on Thursday. Additionally, gusts of wind rattled the famous “Big Prawn” sculpture in Ballina, snapping off one of its fibreglass feelers.

American rapper Ice Cube, who was in the area ahead of his concert dates in Sydney and Melbourne, shared his experience of the storm. “I’m staying clear of it. I haven’t been through a cyclone before. I can check this off my bucket list for sure,” he said, noting that he was watching the storm from his beachfront location.

Cyclones are common in northern Australia, but it is rare for them to form in the cooler waters further south. Alfred is expected to be the first cyclone to make landfall in this region since 1974, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

As the storm approaches, researchers continue to warn that climate change is amplifying the risks of natural disasters, including cyclones, floods, and bushfires, across the country.