SYDNEY: A closely populated stretch of Australia’s jap coast battened down on Tuesday (Mar 4) for what might be the primary tropical cyclone to pummel the area in 50 years.
Tropical Cyclone Alfred was swirling about 550km east of main metropolis Brisbane, with fashions exhibiting it veering in the direction of the mainland later within the day.
Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Dean Narramore mentioned the storm was prone to cross the coast late Thursday or early Friday, placing land between metropolitan Brisbane and vacationer haven Sunshine Coast.
It might be the primary tropical cyclone to make landfall in that a part of Australia since 1974, Narramore informed AFP.
“It isn’t file breaking but it surely’s positively just a little bit extra uncommon,” he mentioned.
Some three million folks dwell alongside the 100km stretch linking Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, a area recognized for its balmy climate and golden seashores.
Whereas cyclones are frequent within the warm tropical waters lapping Australia, it’s uncommon for them to strike the closely populated areas discovered additional south.
The flood-prone northern rivers area of New South Wales, which lies south of Brisbane, would additionally really feel the influence, officers mentioned.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns urged cities to “be ready for the worst”.
