Residents in Chermside and surrounding suburbs are being urged to prepare as Kedron Wavell Club is designated as a temporary refuge shelter ahead of Cyclone Alfred’s approach to southeast Queensland. The club, located on Kittyhawk Drive, is one of three emergency shelters set to receive evacuees from 7:00 a.m. Thursday, 6 March. With Alfred gaining strength, authorities warn the worst may be yet to come.
Evacuation Centres Open as Cyclone Alfred Inches Closer
Kedron Wavell Club is among three temporary shelters opening across Brisbane to provide a last-resort safe space for residents who have nowhere else to go. Other locations include RNA Showgrounds in Bowen Hills and Chandler Arena at Sleeman Sports Complex. These shelters will accept evacuees until 12:00 p.m., after which they will lock down for safety reasons.
Authorities stress that these shelters offer only basic amenities—there will be no beds, cooking facilities, or catering. Residents are advised to bring their own non-perishable food and water. Anyone seeking refuge must register upon arrival and provide identification.
With Alfred’s impact expected to intensify, Brisbane City Council urges at-risk residents to evacuate now rather than wait until conditions worsen.
Cyclone Alfred Landfall Delayed, Strengthening Still Possible
As of 1:00 a.m. on 6 March, the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) reported that Cyclone Alfred was located 325 kilometres east of Brisbane, moving slowly northwest at 7 km/h. Initial predictions had the system making landfall on Thursday night, but forecasters have now widened the expected arrival window to Friday afternoon.
Weather experts warn that Alfred could strengthen into a Category 3 cyclone before landfall, with wind gusts reaching up to 155 km/h near its core. Destructive 120 km/h gusts are expected across the warning area, spanning from Double Island Point (north of the Sunshine Coast) to Grafton in northern NSW.
More concerning than the wind, however, is the potential for severe flooding. Reports also indicate that Cyclone Alfred has slowed down, delaying its landfall and giving Brisbane residents a brief reprieve from the worst of the weather today. While this means less intense conditions on Thursday and more time to prepare, the downside is that the longer the system remains over water, the stronger it can become.
Slow-moving cyclones dump rain in the same areas for extended periods, leading to dangerous flash flooding and storm surges. If the cyclone stays slow-moving upon landfall, Brisbane could face prolonged exposure to damaging winds and heavy rainfall. Forecasts still show the system tracking toward the city, though authorities remain hopeful for a last-minute shift away from populated areas.
Some regions could see 300 to 400 mm of rainfall in a single day, with total rainfall surpassing 800 mm in flood-prone areas.
Flood Warnings and Transport Disruptions
Flood alerts have been issued for approximately 6,000 properties across the Gold Coast, while evacuation warnings have been issued in parts of northern NSW, including Pottsville, Fingal Head, and Chinderah. In Lismore, a town still recovering from devastating floods three years ago, fears are growing that its levee system may not hold under the extreme rainfall expected in coming days.
Public transport services across southeast Queensland shut down at midnight on 6 March. This includes:
- CityCat and ferry services suspended until further notice.
- Buses ceasing operations from 6 March.
- Story Bridge footpaths closed since 5:30 p.m. on 5 March.
- More than 1,000 schools shut down for safety reasons.
In addition, waste collection services are suspended, and libraries, pools, and community halls are closed until further notice. Energex has warned that widespread power outages could last one to two weeks in severely impacted areas.
Stay alert and keep track of the latest developments regarding Cyclone Alfred:
Emergency Response and Community Support
Authorities have mobilised emergency response teams, with ADF personnel and swift-water rescue teams on standby. More than 125,000 sandbags have been distributed, and additional emergency supplies have been pre-positioned to assist in recovery efforts.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli assured residents that disaster response plans were already in motion. He noted that Queensland’s experience in handling natural disasters would ensure that assistance and recovery efforts begin as soon as conditions allow.
With conditions expected to worsen throughout Thursday and Friday, officials urge residents to finalise preparations, avoid unnecessary travel, and stay updated via official emergency channels.
Published 6-March-2025