Photo: Zoom Earth
Tropical Cyclone Alfred (finally) made landfall over Moreton Island off the coast of Brisbane. The storm, which had produced an endless surge of viral surf clips throughout the week while Australia braced for impact, had been downgraded to a Category 1. Initial forecasts said the storm would make landfall late Thursday and early Friday morning but that prediction was pushed back to late Friday, early Saturday morning when experts recognized the storm slowing its approach to the East Coast.
We’ve been enjoying nonstop footage of everyday surfers and A-list pros alike getting the waves of their lives thanks to Alfred, but now a lot of attention will understandably turn to people navigating the storm’s real-life impact. After surfing highlights took most headlines for days, city council members on the Gold Coast eventually warned surfers they could get a $16,000 fine for “reckless actions.” It’s been at least 50 years since a tropical storm made landfall over the region, which has fueled a sense of uncertainty for many.
Some early reports of Alfred making landfall have varied and some have been ominous, to say the least. For example, one social media update from the Gold Coast featured a warning being broadcast through a high-rise apartment. Elevators were shut off at 10 p.m. local time Friday, and residents could hear a loud announcement to expect flooding in their lobby.
“The lifts will be shut down as of 10 p.m. tonight,” the intercom said. “There is a very real chance the foyer of the building is going to flood. If we lose power and you happen to be in the lift at the time, you are not getting out and there will be no help.”
Thousands were ordered to evacuate ahead of Alfred’s arrival on Friday, with Queensland Premier David Crisafulli urging citizens to prepare an evacuation plan. As many as four-million people live in the storm’s path where Alfred was expected to reach Australia, straddling the borders of Queensland and New South Wales.
“If in doubt, go and stay with friends and families,” Crisafulli said.
Meanwhile, electricity was cut off in as many as 80,000 homes in anticipation of high winds, storm surges, and possible flooding.
