Tropical Cyclone Alfred Likely to Stay Offshore

Good news for Queensland—Tropical Cyclone Alfred is now unlikely to make landfall, though it’s still churning over the Coral Sea and will stick around into next week.

The storm briefly intensified to a category 4 overnight, but has since dropped back to a category 3, according to the Bureau of Meteorology’s senior meteorologist, Jonathan How.

"At this stage, landfall is looking less likely," How said.

Alfred is currently moving toward the Queensland coast but is expected to turn back on Sunday, shifting southward instead. By tomorrow, it’s forecast to weaken further to a category 2 storm.

Dangerous Conditions Along the Coast

Even though Alfred might not hit the coast directly, it’s still whipping up dangerous conditions from Townsville to K’gari, with the effects spreading to the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast by the weekend.

⚠️ What to expect:

• Huge waves up to 2.5 metres

• Swell readings of 3 metres

• Gale-force winds across the Great Barrier Reef

• Cyclone centre winds of 155 km/h, with gusts up to 220 km/h

How is warning that swimming, boating, and rock fishing are not safe under these conditions.

Alfred is currently sitting 750km east-north-east of July, and while it’s expected to hold at category 2 strength into next week, there are still several possible paths it could take beyond the weekend.

For now, stay alert, avoid risky coastal activities, and keep an eye on updates as the cyclone continues its journey.