Cyclone Alfred

{{storm path|Alfred 2025 path.png|colors=new}}

On 20 February the United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) started to publically monitor a tropical disturbance that had developed about {{convert|188|nmi|km mi|round=5|abbr=on|order=out}} to the southwest of Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea.{{cite report|date=20 February 2025|title=Significant Tropical Weather Advisory 20 February 2025 03z|publisher=United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250429232601/https://wiki.chlod.net/jtwc/text/2025-02-20-0310-abpwweb.txt|archive-date=29 April 2025|url=https://wiki.chlod.net/jtwc/text/2025-02-20-0310-abpwweb.txt|url-status=live}} At this time, atmospheric convection was flaring over the eastern edge of the system's broad low-level circulation center, while it was located within an favourable environment for further development with low to moderate vertical wind shear and warm sea surface temperatures of {{convert|29-30|C|F|abbr=on}}.{{cite report|date=20 February 2025|title=Significant Tropical Weather Advisory February 20, 2025 06z|publisher=United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250429232958/https://wiki.chlod.net/jtwc/text/2025-02-20-0610-abpwweb.txt|archive-date=29 April 2025|url=https://wiki.chlod.net/jtwc/text/2025-02-20-0610-abpwweb.txt|url-status=live}} During that day, the system's low-level circulation centre consolidated as it moved south-eastwards, before the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) classified it as Tropical Low 22U, while it was located about {{convert|200|nmi|km mi|round=5|abbr=on|order=out}} to the northeast of Cooktown, Queensland.{{cite report|date=20 February 2025|title=Significant Tropical Weather Advisory 20 February 2025 18z|publisher=United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250430000840/https://wiki.chlod.net/jtwc/text/2025-02-20-1820-abpwweb.txt|archive-date=30 April 2025|url=https://wiki.chlod.net/jtwc/text/2025-02-20-1820-abpwweb.txt|url-status=live}}{{cite report|title=Severe Tropical Cyclone Alfred (22U)|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250403102128/http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/Alfred2025.shtml|archive-date=3 April 2025|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/Alfred2025.shtml|url-status=live}}{{BoM TC Database}} Over the next couple of days, the system continued to develop further as it generally moved eastwards, before the JTWC initiated advisories and classified it as Tropical Cyclone 22P on 22 February. Initially, the BOM did not immediately follow suit and kept it as a tropical low; however, around 16:20 AEST, the BoM reported that the system had developed into a category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale and named it Alfred.

File:20250305 pir3.webm on 5 March 2025]]

Over the next couple of days, the storm continued to move to the east and was upgraded to a category 2 tropical cyclone on the Australian scale at 16:00 AEST on 24 February. As Alfred then turned south, it also continued to intensify, attaining category 3 status on 26 February at 22:00 AEST. The next day, the BOM further upgraded Alfred to a category 4 cyclone as a small eye appeared on visible satellite imagery. Later that night, an eyewall replacement cycle (ERC) occurred, prompting Alfred to fluctuate between categories 3 and 4 on 1 March, before further weakening down to a category 1 the following day. It then fluctuated between category 1 and category 2 status for the next three days as it meandered off the coast. The Bureau of Meteorology predicted that landfall could occur between Friday afternoon and the early hours of 8 March.{{cite news |title=Tropical Cyclone Alfred now expected to make landfall on Friday afternoon |url=https://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/tropical-cyclone-alfred-now-expected-to-make-landfall-on-friday-afternoon/news-story/701a1f328b5f49cdb6f2c7ef3430865a |work=News.com.au |date= |access-date=6 March 2025}} At 23:30 AEST (13:30 UTC) on 7 March, Alfred made landfall on Moreton Island, with winds of 75 km/h (45 mph).{{cite news|last=Kothari|first=Rishav|url=https://watchers.news/2025/03/07/tropical-cyclone-alfred-makes-landfall-over-moreton-bay-islands/|title=Tropical Cyclone Alfred makes landfall over Moreton Bay Islands|work=The Watchers|date=7 March 2025|access-date=8 March 2025}} At 06:45 AEST on 8 March, Alfred was downgraded to a tropical low before crossing the mainland.{{Cite news |date=2025-03-08 |title=Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred is now a tropical low system. Can I leave my home? |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-08/ex-tropical-cyclone-alfred-can-i-go-outside-leave-my-home/105026992 |access-date=2025-03-08 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}

The cyclone hit the part of southern Queensland and northern New South Wales, which are not in the tropics, while generally such cyclones occur within the tropical zone. Climate scientists said such out-of-zone cyclones become more frequent due to climate change.{{cite news |last1=Saueurs |first1=Craig |title=Warm oceans, shifting winds: What is the science behind Cyclone Alfred's strength? |url=https://www.euronews.com/green/2025/03/06/warm-oceans-shifting-winds-what-is-the-science-behind-cyclone-alfreds-strength |access-date=9 March 2025 |agency=Euronews |date=6 March 2025}}

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{{Overly detailed|section|details=|date=March 2025}}

File:Alfred 2025-02-27 0320Z.jpg

On 3 March the BoM issued a tropical cyclone watch for the coast between Sandy Cape, Queensland and Grafton, New South Wales, which included Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Byron Bay but not Grafton.{{Cite report|date=3 March 2025|title=Tropical Cyclone Advice Number 1|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDQ20023.html|archiveurl=http://archive.today/vYdoS|archive-date=3 March 2025|access-date=3 March 2025 |publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology}} This was the first time a cyclone watch had been issued for Brisbane since a watch was briefly issued for Cyclone Oma during February 2019.{{Cite news |last1=Billings |first1=Patrick |last2=Couacaud |first2=Tayla |last3=Koo |first3=Grace |date=2 March 2025 |title=Great southern landfall: Alfred to pack a punch as it makes history |url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/millions-in-the-firing-line-as-tropical-cyclone-alfred-makes-beeline-for-southeast/news-story/2ef0ba84897092acae7747b373858b8a |access-date=3 March 2025 |newspaper=The Courier Mail}} During the next day, the watch was upgraded to a warning for the coastline between Double Island Point in Queensland and Yamba in New South Wales, which marked the first time a tropical cyclone warning had been issued for Brisbane since Cyclone Nancy in February 1990.{{Cite report|date=4 March 2025|title=Tropical Cyclone Advice Number 5|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDQ20023.html|archiveurl=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/SSFNY|archive-date=4 March 2025|access-date=4 March 2025 |publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology}}{{CN|date=March 2025}}

In the lead up to the storm, three sandbagging stations were opened on the Gold Coast, with a further two opening soon after, due to high demand.{{Cite web |title=Dashboard |url=https://dashboard.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/ |access-date=2025-03-03 |website=dashboard.goldcoast.qld.gov.au}} Nine sandbagging stations were also opened in Noosa{{cite web |title=Are you ready? Strong wind warning and flood watch|url=https://www.facebook.com/SandyBoltonNoosa/posts/pfbid02CBuE4eSXE2U8Sw7un9kZGzLoEF2F7ddUatXw5wWneqshAERF2HMNHNGgnhSLhZkLl |website=Facebook |publisher=Sandy Bolton, MP |access-date=3 March 2025}} and a further five were opened on the Sunshine Coast.{{cite web |title=Flooding and heavy rain on the way |url=https://www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/news/flooding-and-heavy-rain-on-the-way |publisher=Sunshine Coast Council |access-date=3 March 2025}} Large swell, and abnormally high tides are occurring along the central, and southern Queensland coast, with significant wave heights of up to 4.87 m recorded in the Wide Bay region,{{Cite web |title=Coastal Hazard Warning for ABNORMALLY HIGH TIDES and DAMAGING SURF |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDQ21137.shtml |url-status=}} and significant erosion seen across the coast.

A Lithuanian solo-rower, Aurimas Mockus, rowing from San Diego to Brisbane was caught in the cyclone prompting a successful search and rescue by the Royal Australian Navy ship HMAS Choules.{{cite news |title=Lithuanian rower Aurimas Mockus rescued by Australian navy after being caught in Tropical Cyclone Alfred |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-03/lithuanian-rower-rescued-australian-navy-cyclone-alfred/105002022 |access-date=3 March 2025 |agency=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=3 March 2025}}{{cite news |title=Video: Royal Australian Navy Rescues Solo Rower From Coral Sea Cyclone |url=https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/video-royal-australian-navy-rescues-solo-rower-from-coral-sea-cyclone |access-date=3 March 2025 |agency=The Maratime Executive |date=3 March 2025}}

CityCat and ferry services were suspended on Monday evening to allow the vessels to be moved to safety.{{Cite web |last=Ward |first=Sarah |date=2025-03-03 |title=Brisbane's CityCats and Ferries Have Been Suspended Until Further Notice Due to Tropical Cyclone Alfred |url=https://concreteplayground.com/brisbane/travel-leisure/brisbane-citycats-ferries-suspended-tropical-cyclone-alfred |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=Concrete Playground |language=en-US}}

File:Coastal_erosion_at_Ocean_Shores_in_the_lead_up_to_Cyclone_Alfred_04.jpg

The Acting Commissioner of the Queensland Police Service, Shane Chelepy, announced that with the assistance of the National Emergency Management Agency that 724,000 sandbags had been made available in South East Queensland.{{cite web |title=Queensland Premier David Crisafulli gives an update on Tropical Cyclone Alfred |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAW8P6_Ig_8 |website=YouTube |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=4 March 2025}}

Both the Australian WPGA Championship and Mooloolaba Triathlon were cancelled.{{Cite news |date=2025-03-03 |title=WPGA Championship cancelled due to Cyclone Alfred |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-04/australian-wpga-championship-cancelled-cyclone-alfred/105006872 |access-date=2025-03-04 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}{{Cite news |last1=McEwan |first1=Hannah |last2=Shorthouse |first2=Janel |name-list-style=and |date=2025-03-04 |title=Cyclone forces Mooloolaba Triathlon cancellation |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-04/mooloolaba-triathlon-cancelled-cyclone-alfred-looms/105008790 |access-date=2025-03-04 |work=ABC News}} The AFL postponed two matches between {{AFL BL}} vs {{AFL Gee}} at The Gabba as well as {{AFL GC}} vs {{AFL Ess}} at People First Stadium.{{cite news|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/1274435/afl-makes-decision-on-brisbane-lions-v-geelong-cats-and-gold-coast-suns-and-essendon-bombers-games-as-tropical-cyclone-alfred-looms|title=Both Qld games postponed due to tropical cyclone|date=4 March 2025 |work=AFL.com.au}} The NRL also followed suit, moving the Dolphins vs South Sydney match from Suncorp Stadium to CommBank Stadium in Sydney.{{Cite web|access-date=4 March 2025|date=4 March 2025|title=NRL moves Dolphins vs Rabbitohs to Sydney as cyclone heads for south-east Queensland|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-04/nrl-moves-dolphins-vs-rabbitohs-to-sydney/105010274|publisher=ABC News|website=abc.net.au}} A Green Day concert scheduled for 5 March at the Gold Coast's Cbus Super Stadium was cancelled.{{Cite news |last=Varvaris |first=Mary |date=2025-03-04 |title=Green Day's 'Saviors' Gold Coast Show Cancelled Due To Cyclone Alfred |url=https://themusic.com.au/news/green-day-saviors-gold-coast-show-cancelled-due-to-cyclone-alfred/wcp_1dTX1tk/04-03-25 |access-date=2025-03-04 |work=The Music}} The 145th Beenleigh Show was also cancelled,{{Cite news |last=Hazlewood |first=Guy |date=4 March 2025 |title=Events cancelled: Find out what's on and what's not |url=https://mycitylogan.com.au/beenleigh-show-cancelled-due-to-tropical-cyclone-alfred/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250304114107/https://mycitylogan.com.au/beenleigh-show-cancelled-due-to-tropical-cyclone-alfred/ |archive-date=4 March 2025 |access-date=4 March 2025 |work=MyCity Logan}} with the showgrounds instead hosting a sandbag station.{{Cite web |date=n.d. |title=Tropical Cyclone Alfred - Where to get sandbags |url=https://www.logan.qld.gov.au/sandbags |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250304114920/https://www.logan.qld.gov.au/sandbags |archive-date=4 March 2025 |access-date=4 March 2025 |website=Logan City Council}}

The Queensland University of Technology and University of the Sunshine Coast closed for the cyclone's duration from midnight and 10 p.m., respectively.{{cite web |title=Tropical Cyclone Alfred |url=https://www.qut.edu.au/additional/tropical-cyclone-alfred |publisher=Queensland University of Technology |access-date=4 March 2025}}{{cite web |title=Campus closures due to Tropical Cyclone Alfred |url=https://www.usc.edu.au/campus-closures-due-to-tropical-cyclone-alfred |publisher=University of the Sunshine Coast |access-date=4 March 2025}} Griffith University announced that it would close its campuses from midnight, with classes and other activities being moved online.{{Cite web |title=Griffith University on LinkedIn: Griffith University Campus Closures Due to Cyclone Alfred |url=https://www.linkedin.com/posts/griffith-university_griffith-university-campus-closures-due-activity-7302577029013508096-cEs_ |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=linkedin.com |language=en}} Southern Cross University announced immediate closure of both Gold Coast and Lismore campuses, with the Lismore campus being used as an evacuation centre, with classes due to resume on 14 March.{{Cite web |title=Cyclone Alfred - Southern Cross University |url=https://www.scu.edu.au/news/2025/cyclone-alfred/ |access-date=2025-03-07 |website=scu.edu.au |language=en}}

File:Thursday_6_March_at_the_southern_breakwater_walk_at_Brunswick_Heads_06.jpg

On 5 March, New South Wales Premier Chris Minns announced the closure of 122 public schools in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, with private and Catholic schools announcing they would also close.{{cite news |last=Vidler |first=Adam |title=More than 120 schools closed in NSW |url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/tropical-cyclone-alfred-2025-live-updates-forecast-warnings-what-to-know/1fae781e-26eb-40ba-9ae0-a2eb5be3b625#post=e064bf65-8370-4ee4-8e7d-af5d478433e1 |access-date=4 March 2025 |agency=Nine News |date=5 March 2025}}

The Noosa Council opened the Noosa Leisure Centre as an evacuation centre on the same day.{{cite web |title=Noosa Refuge Centre |url=https://www.facebook.com/noosacouncil/posts/pfbid0HPDL8GHysPPLaKQ7szVJkDyWjW71ELTiug7TqzJpaDebTUHeNBs9WH9Wqs8X6V4ul |publisher=Noosa Council |access-date=4 March 2025}} Six evacuation centres were opened in Tweed Heads and a further six in the greater Northern Rivers.{{cite web |title=Evacuation centres update |url=https://www.facebook.com/NSW.SES/posts/pfbid0crtBHtupmEXB2kfZoVK42hyRwZyZt8KvEwPdUUkbu3MLWsqqPD9MFtUXdXrR8H67l |website=Facebook |publisher=SES New South Wales |access-date=4 March 2025}}

The Queensland Premier David Crisafulli announced that a 'Red Alert' was issued to come into effect from midday for all mariners, requiring vessels with permission only from the Brisbane Harbour Master to be on the water from Redcliffe to Coolangatta. He also announced that all schools in the affected areas would be closed on Thursday and Friday.{{cite web |title=Cyclone Alfred update from prime minister, Queensland premier |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImWs5GVxY_Y |website=Youtube |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=5 March 2025}} Later in the afternoon he announced the closure of the Gold Coast Airport, which ceased operations at 4 p.m.{{cite web |title=Queensland Premier David Crisafulli gives update on Tropical Cyclone Alfred |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fmucIIsKxU |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=5 March 2025}} Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a 'period of emergency' had been enacted that the Australian Defence Force had been activated with immediate effect. Albanese also confirmed that 125,000 sandbags are to be delivered to the Queensland government, with an additional 80,000 being delivered by the Australian Defence Force alone. Additional deployment of heavy-lift helicopters from the fleet was also announced.{{cite web |work=SBS News |date=2025-03-05 |title=Evacuations begin as tropical cyclone Alfred expected to make landfall |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/evacuations-begin-as-tropical-cyclone-alfred-expected-to-make-landfall/snux670do |access-date=2025-03-05}}

The cyclone was also a factor in deciding the date of the federal election, which was to be held by May. In the lead up to March 2025, there was increasing media speculation that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese might call for the federal election in early March, with the election to be held on 12 April.{{cite web|url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/federal-election-2025-when-is-it-earliest-latest-dates-double-dissolution-explained/a8dec667-4d33-46d6-b85a-ae4ea2b88b4b|title='More or less imminent': When will the next federal election be held?|publisher=9 News|date=5 March 2025|access-date=7 March 2025}} On the eve of the cyclone landfall (7 March), Albanese announced that he had ruled out a 12 April election.{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-07/federal-government-to-hand-down-budget/105024394|title=Anthony Albanese rules out April election, with federal budget set for later this month|publisher=ABC News|date=7 March 2025|access-date=7 March 2025}} This was to prevent the need for Albanese to leave the recovery zone for Canberra to call the election, and to also prevent the campaign from clashing with upcoming recovery efforts.

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On 6 March, Cyclone Alfred’s approach to Brisbane slowed down, further delaying landfall predictions by 6 hours. Public schools, public transport, major roads, and airports began to shut down; however, emergency services still operate.{{cite news |title=Cyclone Alfred live updates: Brisbane, south-east Queensland brace for first direct impact from storm in 50 years; northern NSW prepares for flooding |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/cyclone-alfred-live-updates-brisbane-south-east-queensland-braces-for-first-direct-impact-from-storm-in-50-years-northern-nsw-prepares-for-flooding-20250305-p5lh6c.html |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=5 March 2025}} The Brisbane Airport announced it would cease operations at 4 p.m.{{cite web |title=Brisbane Airport Closure |url=https://www.facebook.com/BrisbaneAirport/posts/pfbid0FnGzEGHyWHbVEuei6SSkqU3MfQbSCFeLESZncwo38HA3seRXNHA1rjZejztnNrY1l |publisher=Brisbane Airport |access-date=6 March 2025}}

At 9 p.m., the first 'Emergency Warning' level warning was issued for the cyclone, for the Redland City Island Communities,{{cite web |title=Emergency warning – Take shelter now – Tropical Cyclone Alfred |url=https://www.redlandscoasttoday.com.au/2025/03/emergency-warning-take-shelter-now-tropical-cyclone-alfred/ |publisher=Redland City Council |access-date=6 March 2025}} which include North Stradbroke Island and the Southern Moreton Bay Islands.

Warnings were issued to Gold Coast residents to stay away from the area due to uncertainty over their stability. The Pacific Highway was closed at Byron Bay and Chinderah. NSW Deputy Premier, Prue Car, announced that all Northern Rivers public, independent and Catholic schools would continue to be shut on Monday 10th.

Airservices Australia issued a warning for all travellers that there would be airport delays across the country due to its Brisbane radar being impacted by the cyclone, with midair radars across the East coast being at risk of having no signal. Albanese announced that 120 Australian Defence Force personnel had been deployed to Northern New South Wales to support the State Emergency Services. At 15:50 AEST and 16:00 AEST, respectively, an 'Emergency Warning' level warning was issued for the Gold Coast and Redland City.{{cite web |title=EMERGENCY WARNING TAKE SHELTER NOW |url=https://www.facebook.com/RedlandCouncil/posts/pfbid09cqDkAginhAwXSKQUM3USvd8T7Qd99Xj62JtrQiTJhPozhUhqjZCJ7v3EQkDZSdol |website=Facebook |publisher=Redland Bay City Council |access-date=7 March 2025}}{{cite web |title=TAKE SHELTER NOW |url=https://www.facebook.com/cityofgoldcoast/posts/pfbid02FaUrrPXFeYquuCncqNzGvHtVW5sbkUatPXa7ZKdLwszJfyZ6EwTshRfwAsr4nzkql |website=Facebook |publisher=Gold Coast City Council |access-date=7 March 2025}}

{{Wettest tropical cyclones in Australia}}

On 6 March, at about 15:00 AEST, it was reported that a jet skier had gone missing, with the jet ski recovered near Broadbeach, Queensland. Torrential downpours occurred in the region that day.

Gusts of over {{cvt|100|kph}} were recorded at the Gold Coast and Byron Bay between 12:00 and 08:00 AEST on 7 March.{{Cite news |date=2025-03-06 |title=Live: Winds increasing, 40,000 homes already without power as Alfred approaches |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-07/tropical-cyclone-alfred-queensland-nsw-landfall-friday/105019120 |access-date=2025-03-07 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}} Large pine trees had fallen in Kirra due to strong winds. By 15:00 AEST, 80,000 properties across Queensland and New South Wales had lost power.{{cite web |title=Afternoon Briefing with Patricia Karvelas|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Up87_srihs |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=7 March 2025}} The Northern Rivers began experiencing widespread power outages, with 43,000 homes left without power due to trees falling on power lines overnight.{{Cite news |last=Wind |first=Emily |date=2025-03-07 |title=Cyclone Alfred live updates: BoM tracking map forecast for Brisbane, SE Queensland and northern NSW; TC Alfred flooding warnings and power outages – latest news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/mar/07/tropical-cyclone-alfred-live-updates-wind-rain-category-2-storm-south-east-queensland-northern-nsw |access-date=2025-03-07 |work=the Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} A man went missing and was later found dead after his car was swept away by floodwaters in Dorrigo, New South Wales.{{cite news|last1=Fernandez|first1=Tim|last2=Murphy|first2=Bridget|title=Man missing in floodwaters as Tropical Cyclone Alfred approaches northern NSW|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-07/evacuation-notices-northern-nsw-flood-risk-cyclone-alfred/105018676|date=7 March 2025|access-date=8 March 2025|work=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}{{cite news|last1=Pye|first1=John|last2=McGuirk|first2=Rod|url=https://apnews.com/article/australia-cyclone-alfred-brisbane-ec60b6f7b8658e9cdce954c7a47979f1|title=1 dead and several injured as tropical low tracks west across Australian east coast|work=Associated Press|date=8 March 2025|access-date=8 March 2025}} A 12-year-old girl was left missing in Redland Bay, Queensland.{{cite news|last=Feiam|first=Alexandra|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/frantic-search-for-missing-12yo-girl-as-cyclone-alfred-approaches-coast/news-story/fec123f292e27962faa817cdb25cccf7|title=Frantic search for missing 12yo girl as Cyclone Alfred approaches coast|work=Herald Sun|date=7 March 2025|access-date=8 March 2025}} In Lismore, New South Wales, a collision involving two Australian Defence Force vehicles left 36 people injured, eight of them seriously, and left two others missing.{{cite news|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/breaking-lismore-crash-36-injured-34820838|title=Lismore crash: 36 injured and two 'trapped' after military vehicles collide|work=Daily Mirror|date=8 March 2025|access-date=8 March 2025}}

On the Gold Coast, a woman was injured and 20 more were evacuated after the cyclone detached the roof of an apartment building, while a couple sustained minor injuries when a tree crashed through the ceiling of their bedroom.{{cite news|url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/1-dead-several-injured-tropical-100850696.html|title=1 dead and several injured as tropical low tracks west across Australian east coast|work=Yahoo News|date=8 March 2025|access-date=8 March 2025}} In Brisbane, Urban Utilities had to release raw sewerage into the Brisbane River, due to a critical project being overwhelmed by storm water, causing them to issue a warning between Lucas Park and Colmslie Beach Reserve along the river.{{Cite web |title=Urban Utilities |url=https://www.urbanutilities.com.au/faults-and-interruptions/brisbane-river-updates |access-date=2025-03-09 |website=www.urbanutilities.com.au}}

Alfred left over 300,000 homes and businesses without power,{{Cite news |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CXNhLVh-bk |title=Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred: Over 300,000 homes and businesses without power |last=9 News Australia |work=9 News Australia |date=2025-03-08 |accessdate=2025-03-18 |language=en |archive-date=2025-03-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250310013753/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CXNhLVh-bk }} and caused severe damage to the beaches on Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.{{Cite news |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMETc6GaEKE |title=Queensland beaches badly affected by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred |last=ABC News (Australia) |work=ABC NEWS |date=2025-03-14 |accessdate=2025-03-20}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/news/mooloolaba-beach-nourishment-to-restore-cyclone-affected-areas |title=Mooloolaba Beach nourishment to restore cyclone-affected areas |date=2025-03-14 |accessdate=2025-03-20 |language=en-AU}} The cyclone caused six million cubic meters of sand to be eroded from the Gold Coast beaches. The Gold Coast City Council hoped to have its beaches repaired by Easter to ensure tourism was not affected.{{Cite news |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-12/gold-coast-council-work-restore-cyclone-beaches-by-easter/105036706 |title=Gold Coast council sets Easter deadline for beach repairs |date=2025-03-11 |newspaper=ABC News |accessdate=2025-03-20 |language=en-AU}}

{{Costliest Australian region tropical cyclones}}

Liberal opposition leader Peter Dutton and LNP Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate were criticised for not being in their electorate during the crisis. Peter Dutton had flown out of his seat of Dickson to Sydney to attend a fundraising dinner hosted by businessman Justin Hemmes and raised over $500,000 for the Coalition. Dutton cancelled the rest of his fundraising appointments the next day after the news broke.{{Cite news |url=https://www.afr.com/rear-window/dutton-lunched-with-sydney-developer-during-cyclone-crisis-20250306-p5lhgv |title=Dutton lunched with Sydney developer during cyclone crisis |date=2025-03-06 |accessdate=2025-03-20 |language=en |archive-date=2025-03-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250313160313/https://www.afr.com/rear-window/dutton-lunched-with-sydney-developer-during-cyclone-crisis-20250306-p5lhgv }}{{Cite news |url=https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/dutton-and-tate-dodge-cyclone-alfred-scomo-style,19512 |title=Dutton and Tate dodge Cyclone Alfred Scomo style |accessdate=2025-03-20 |language=en |archive-date=2025-03-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250311070210/https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/dutton-and-tate-dodge-cyclone-alfred-scomo-style,19512}} Tom Tate had travelled to Las Vegas to watch an NRL game and only returned to the Gold Coast after the cyclone passed.{{Cite news |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/breaking-news/gold-coast-city-mayor-tom-tate-stuck-in-us-after-vegas-trip-as-tropical-cyclone-alfred-looms/news-story/324f0d71add2335de6711f32c04e0ee5 |title=Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate arrives in Australia after Las Vegas trip as ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred nears |author=Jessica Wang |publisher=The Australian |author2=Duncan Evans}}

Labor leader and current prime minister Anthony Albanese attended a party fundraiser the same day as Dutton, a fact ignored by the Labor ministers condemning Dutton for abandoning his community for money. However, the Prime Minister's electorate is in Sydney and was not to be impacted by the cyclone. The event, held at the Cabra-Vale Diggers in south-western Sydney, granted attendees access to the Prime Minister for a cost of $2,000 per person. A $10,000-a-head fundraiser scheduled at a restaurant overlooking the Sydney Opera House was postponed after 'controversy' was raised over the Opposition Leader's attendance of a fundraiser, but before the revelation of the Prime Minister's own fundraiser.{{Cite news |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-14/albanese-attended-political-fundraiser-alfred/105053510 |title=Albanese confirms he attended a political fundraiser on same day as Dutton amid Alfred preparations |date=2025-03-16 |accessdate=2025-04-11}}

{{Portal|Tropical cyclones|Australia}}

• List of storms named Alfred
• Tropical cyclones in 2025
• Weather of 2025
• Cyclone Jasper (2023) – another storm which significantly weakened before reaching the Queensland coast.

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