Cyclone Alfred LIVE updates: Brisbane, South-east Queensland emergency alerts issued as storm approaches mainland; Lismore likely to flood by morning​on March 7, 2025 at 4:37 pm

Hello and welcome to our live coverage as Cyclone Alfred approaches the Queensland coast and triggers flooding and damaging winds in northern NSW.

Here is a recap of key developments:

• The centre of Cyclone Alfred hit the Moreton Bay islands at 1am AEST and is on track to hit Brisbane at 6am local time.
• Latest tracking shows Alfred is 45km kilometres from Brisbane and 90 kilometres from the Gold Coast. These maps show Alfred’s likely path.
• Brisbane residents have been ordered to take shelter immediately by going to the strongest room in the house and avoiding windows. They should remain there until the storm has passed.
• The bureau says more than 4 million people are in the firing line of Cyclone Alfred as it tracks towards Brisbane, the Gold Coast and northern NSW.
• Around 20,000 properties in Brisbane could be flooded, as well as 5000 on the Sunshine Coast and 6000 on the Gold Coast.
• Many roads and services including public transport and elective surgeries have been shut down in south-east Queensland. Full details are available here.
• All passenger flights in and out of Gold Coast and Brisbane Airport have been suspended until further notice. Ballina Airport is closed as well, but the runway remains open for emergency services and non-commercial aircraft.
• Evacuation centres have been set up in northern NSW, and at Brisbane’s RNA showgrounds, but residents have been urged to stay with family or friends if they can.
• Alfred has already triggered destructive winds of more than 100km/h on the Gold Coast, Tweed Heads, Byron Bay and parts of the Northern Rivers.
• At least 84,000 homes and businesses have lost power.

Brisbane City Council has ordered residents to go to the strongest, safest part of the house.

“This will be away from big windows. It could be a bathroom, walk-in wardrobe, or hallway,” the statement reads.

The warning comes as Alfred is moving closer to the mainland and is due to hit Brisbane at 6am local time.

“The wind is very dangerous and will be very loud. You will hear things breaking outside and hitting your house.

Emergency service contacts can be found here.

As predicted, the eye of Cyclone Alfred has hit the Moreton Bay islands and is heading towards Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

“The centre of Alfred is over the Moreton (Bay) islands right now,” senior forecaster Dean Narramore of the Bureau of Meteorology told ABC Radio shortly after 1am Brisbane time (2am AEDT).

Moreton Bay contains around 36 islands, including Moreton Island, Bribie Island and Stradbroke Island.

Moving at a rate of 10km/h, Narramore said the cyclone would cross the Queensland mainland around the Bribie Island and Deception Bay area, north of Brisbane, at 6am, “give or take an hour”.

There are more than 200,000 homes without power in Queensland and northern NSW as Cyclone Alfred wreaks havoc down the east coast.

Gold coast residents are among the hardest hit, with more than 118,000 homes without electricity. More than 36,000 homes have been plunged into darkness in Redlands and 20,000 in Brisbane.

Strong winds left 35,000 homes and businesses in Northern NSW without power.

Authorities say those figures will rise as the full brunt of the category 1 storm is felt. They advise residents to be prepared by putting together an emergency kit, including a LED battery-powered and waterproof torches and a first-aid kit.

Many local councils have “disaster dashboards” that will let you know about power outages, infrastructure issues, weather updates and the location of evacuation centres. These can be accessed via the state government links, which we have provided here. It also includes emergency contacts.

The Bureau of Meteorology has just issued its latest update, warning that Cyclone Alfred will hit Brisbane around 6am local time.

It states that the category 1 storm will bring 85km/h winds, with destructive gusts of up to 120km/h.

As of midnight AEDT it was located 55 kilometres north-east of Brisbane and 75 kilometres north-east of Gold Coast.

It is moving at a rate of 10 kilometres per hour and residents from Noosa to Ballina are in its firing line.

Brisbane City Council updated its flood map late Friday night following Bureau of Meteorology predictions for intense rainfall and an increased likelihood for flash flooding as Cyclone Alfred nears the south-east Queensland coast.

The new mapping, released at 8.40pm AEST, includes overland flow and an updated storm surge chart, which shows 20,350 properties at risk of storm surge and flooding.

“Residents are reminded every severe weather event is different and rainfall is difficult to predict,” the council wrote on social media.

“The flood map is for general awareness and is based on the best available information at the time.

“Even if your property isn’t marked as flooded, it could still be at risk.“

The updated flood map can be viewed here.

Hello and welcome to our live coverage as Cyclone Alfred approaches the Queensland coast and triggers flooding and damaging winds in northern NSW.

Here is a recap of key developments:

• The centre of Cyclone Alfred hit the Moreton Bay islands at 1am AEST and is on track to hit Brisbane at 6am local time.
• Latest tracking shows Alfred is 45km kilometres from Brisbane and 90 kilometres from the Gold Coast. These maps show Alfred’s likely path.
• Brisbane residents have been ordered to take shelter immediately by going to the strongest room in the house and avoiding windows. They should remain there until the storm has passed.
• The bureau says more than 4 million people are in the firing line of Cyclone Alfred as it tracks towards Brisbane, the Gold Coast and northern NSW.
• Around 20,000 properties in Brisbane could be flooded, as well as 5000 on the Sunshine Coast and 6000 on the Gold Coast.
• Many roads and services including public transport and elective surgeries have been shut down in south-east Queensland. Full details are available here.
• All passenger flights in and out of Gold Coast and Brisbane Airport have been suspended until further notice. Ballina Airport is closed as well, but the runway remains open for emergency services and non-commercial aircraft.
• Evacuation centres have been set up in northern NSW, and at Brisbane’s RNA showgrounds, but residents have been urged to stay with family or friends if they can.
• Alfred has already triggered destructive winds of more than 100km/h on the Gold Coast, Tweed Heads, Byron Bay and parts of the Northern Rivers.
• At least 84,000 homes and businesses have lost power.