'Scary' tropical Cyclone Alfred nears Queensland

Large waves crashed along the Gold Coast of Australia as Cyclone "Alfred" approached. Despite warnings from authorities for residents to stay indoors, some surfing enthusiasts ignored the warnings, braving the wind and waves to enjoy this rare opportunity. They were determined to make the most of the conditions.

"This is what we've been waiting for," said Jeff Weatherall as he waited on Kirra Beach for a jet ski to tow him into the giant waves. "This is the fifth day in a row – I'm just eating, sleeping, surfing, surfing." Kirra Beach is renowned for its surf breaks, and this week it has become a hive of activity as surfers await the arrival of Cyclone "Alfred". The atmosphere was electric with anticipation.

Meteorologists say that Cyclone "Alfred" is expected to make landfall as a Category 2 cyclone on Saturday morning. Its movement has slowed down recently, and its path has become "erratic," thus delaying the landfall time from previous forecasts. "A Category 2 cyclone means winds near the center of up to 95 kilometers per hour, with gusts up to 130 kilometers per hour," said the Bureau of Meteorology's Matthew Collopy. The potential impact is significant.

Approximately four million people are within the potential impact zone of Cyclone "Alfred." The cyclone is expected to make landfall between the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast, an area known for its beautiful beaches and world-class surfing, and Australia's third-largest city, Brisbane, is also within the affected area. Donnie Neil, a resident and surfing enthusiast, said that it has been "crazy" at Kirra over the past few days.

"The situation is quite serious, and some people may lose their homes, but for now, people are enjoying the good side – it's just crazy surfing," he said. In addition to strong winds, Cyclone "Alfred" is also expected to bring up to 800 millimeters of rain over the coming days, affecting large areas of southern Queensland and northern New South Wales. Flash flooding and river flooding are of greatest concern in low-lying areas. The combination of wind and rain poses a significant threat.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Thursday, "These are tough times, but the Australian people are strong and resilient people." Gold Coast Acting Mayor Donna Gates also stated that Cyclone "Alfred" is a "terrible threat" to the region. On Friday, more than 80,000 homes in the two states were without power, and tens of thousands more were under evacuation orders. The authorities are working hard to support affected communities.

Nearly 1,000 schools have been closed, public transport has been suspended, and airports have also been closed. Flights are not expected to resume until Sunday at the earliest. Elective surgeries have also been canceled. While Queensland is no stranger to cyclones – it is Australia's most disaster-prone state – it is uncommon for cyclones to make landfall so far south. This level of disruption is unusual.

The last time this happened was in 1974, when Cyclone "Wanda" made landfall in January, and two months later, "Zoe" also crossed the coastline. However, floods are more common. In February 2022, much of eastern Australia was damaged by torrential rains that damaged thousands of homes. Authorities have been actively preparing communities to cope with Cyclone "Alfred." City councils have opened sandbag filling points in the area to help residents protect their homes.

"It's so surreal," said Anthony Singh, a resident of Brisbane's western suburbs. "We knew it was coming, but it's very quiet now." He spent four hours on Wednesday collecting sandbags to protect his home. Mark Clayton, a fellow resident, helped coordinate the sandbag collection, shoveling more than 140 tons of sand. The community spirit has been strong.

"I think people are a bit worried," he said. "Will the buildings stand, will the roofs stay on? People are expecting a lot of trees to come down and to be without power for a long time." With supermarkets closed and most people sheltering at home, Australians are waiting for the storm to arrive with a sense of uncertainty. The anticipation is palpable.