Severe Tropical Cyclone Alfred inches closer to Queensland coast

Severe Tropical Cyclone Alfred is inching closer to the Queensland coast, bringing intense winds and wild surf.

The system remains over the Coral Sea, with the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting strong to gale-force winds across the southern Great Barrier Reef Islands and extending to K’gari this weekend.

Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Jonathan How said yesterday there was “high confidence” the cyclone would remain well offshore over the next two days.

The cyclone is expected to move towards the coast today, before moving south-east tomorrow and Monday.

It’s expected to be slow-moving by Tuesday before shifting back towards the southern Queensland coast by the middle of next week.

A severe weather warning remains in place for parts of the Capricornia, Wide Bay and Burnett, and south-east coast forecast districts.

“Alfred is producing a large area of gale force winds on its south-western flank, and there is a risk the system may approach close enough to the coast to produce a period of gales and damaging wind gusts about the coastal fringe overnight tonight and during Sunday,” the Bureau said.

A separate coastal hazard warning is also current for the Wide Bay and south-east coast of Queensland.

Locations which may be affected include Bundaberg, Gladstone, Hervey Bay, K’gari, Miriam Vale and Rainbow Beach.