AS WE go to press, the SEQ and the Northern New South Wales regions are under threat from Tropical Cyclone Alfred, which is expected to make landfall as a category 2 system around the time the Moreton Border News is being delivered around the region early today (Friday).
There are many severe weather events in South East Queensland’s recent history but University of Queensland Geographer Annie Lau said this one was different.
“It’s quite unusual for a tropical cyclone to come this far south, because tropical cyclones like energy,” she said in an interview with the Moreton Border News on Tuesday.
“They need the warmer sea temperatures, which are usually about 26 degrees or above.
“This cyclone is entering cooler regions and that’s something we don’t see very often in this area.”
Inland from the coast the number of hazards caused by a cyclone are reduced, but those that remain can have a severe impact.
“With cyclones we worry about three things, rain, wind and storm surge,” Ms Lau said.
“Going inland and into the regions, it’s the wind and rain that matters.
“There will be wind damage and people should prepare for damage similar to the storms in the hinterland [on Christmas night in 2023].
“Infrastructure in South East Queensland is not built for strong wind because it’s not an area that gets strong cyclones.
“The building code is a bit different from north Queensland where they’re built to withstand strong winds.”
Wind strength from Cyclone Alfred will depend on how fast the cyclone weakens after making landfall because as soon as it hits land, it is no longer energised by seawater.
“Cyclone Alfred tracked over the sea, gathering extra energy, came down south then had a sharp change in direction and that’s something we’ve not seen in 50 years,” she said.
“It’s good in a way that tropical cyclones are quite predictable because we have very accurate 12 to 24 hour forecasts.
“Beyond that there is some uncertainty, but at least we have time to prepare and that’s a good thing.”
