7 h. ago Calm before the storm: nervous Brisbane waits for Alfred’s arrival

Authorities have clearly grasped the scale of potential disaster, but the tropical cyclone won’t feel real to many in the city until the weather starts to turnWhen and where is Tropical Cyclone Alfred likely to hit?Bribie Island braces for AlfredFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastBrisbane residents who lived through the devastating 2011 floods recall an “eerie calm” that set upon the city.Back then, the city woke to sun and blue sky, but knowing the severe threat from rising flood waters was on its way. The driving rain had stopped, but the looming river peaks would cause most of the widespread damage.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading...

Events

9 h. ago Tropical Cyclone Alfred could make landfall near Brisbane. Why is this a big deal and when could it hit?

People prepare for wild weather as BoM forecasts Alfred to hit Queensland later this week, with state’s capital in its pathUPDATE: Tropical Cyclone Alfred intensifies as latest forecast predicts landfall just north of BrisbaneTrack the path of Tropical Cyclone AlfredFor almost two weeks, Tropical Cyclone Alfred has ambled about the Coral Sea.Early on Sunday morning the cyclone passed below the Tropic of Capricorn, way off-track for the typical path a cyclone might take to the north Queensland coast. Continue reading...

Economics

21 h. ago Australia braces for rare tropical cyclone Alfred as residents warned to ‘get out now’

Category 1 cyclone intensifying off Queensland’s coast expected to be one of region’s most destructive in decades

Events

22 h. ago Cyclone Alfred forecast: people urged to prepare for the worst as storm bears down on south

Residents warned to stock up on food and water and secure properties as BoM predicts Alfred will make landfall near BrisbaneTropical Cyclone Alfred could make landfall near Brisbane. Why is this a big deal and when could it hit?Queensland’s Bribie Island braces for AlfredGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastPeople have been warned to leave or prepare for the worst, with a tropical cyclone on track to cross a densely populated part of Australia’s coast for the first time in 50 years.Tropical Cyclone Alfred is looming off Queensland’s coast, threatening to bring heavy rainfall, damaging winds and monster waves. Continue reading...

Events

26 h. ago People urged to prepare for the worst as Tropical Cyclone Alfred bears down on south

Residents warned to stock up on food and water and secure properties as BoM predicts Alfred will make landfall near BrisbaneTropical Cyclone Alfred could make landfall near Brisbane. Why is this a big deal and when could it hit?Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastPeople have been warned to leave or prepare for the worst, with a tropical cyclone on track to cross a densely populated part of Australia’s coast for the first time in 50 years.Tropical Cyclone Alfred is looming off Queensland’s coast, threatening to bring heavy rainfall, damaging winds and monster waves. Continue reading...

Politics

34 h. ago Tropical Cyclone Alfred forecast to hit Queensland and NSW in coming days

Residents warned to prepare food and water and secure properties as BoM predicts Alfred will make landfall anywhere between Bundaberg and northern New South WalesFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastResidents in two states have now been urged to prepare, with the Bureau of Meteorology warning Tropical Cyclone Alfred could make landfall anywhere between Bundaberg and northern New South Wales.The Queensland premier, David Crisafulli, said residents of southeast Queensland should be preparing “canned food and bottled water” as forecasters expect Alfred to shift towards large population centres in the coming days. Continue reading...

Politics

52 h. ago Four million Queenslanders warned they could be in ‘firing line’ when Cyclone Alfred heads towards coast

Bureau of Meteorology says guidance ‘favours landfall on Thursday’ as premier David Crisafulli warns ‘large system presents big challenge’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastTropical Cyclone Alfred will “likely” turn towards major population centres in south-east Queensland this week, with authorities warning more than 4 million people from Bundaberg to the Gold Coast that their communities could be “in the firing line”.The Queensland premier, David Crisafulli, said on Sunday the system could cause serious and potentially dangerous coastal erosion, flash flooding and strong winds. Continue reading...

Events

53 h. ago ‘I need to survive’: rower attempting to cross Pacific activates emergency beacon off Queensland near Cyclone Alfred

Australian navy ship heading to Coral Sea after Aurimas Mockus calls for help one week out from reaching QueenslandFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA Royal Australian Navy ship is bound for the Coral Sea after a Lithuanian man attempting to row across the Pacific Ocean from San Diego to Brisbane got into trouble.Aurimas Mockus activated his emergency beacon on Friday night about 740km east of Mackay, Queensland, and 90km west of Tropical Cyclone Alfred. Continue reading...

Politics

55 h. ago Tropical Cyclone Alfred ‘likely’ to head towards southern Queensland coast later this week

Bureau of Meteorology says guidance ‘favours landfall on Thursday’ possibly near Brisbane as Queensland disaster management committee meetsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastTropical Cyclone Alfred lingering off the Queensland coast will “likely” turn towards the state’s south-east later this week, the Bureau of Meteorology says.Queensland authorities have begun preparations for the possibility the that slow-moving tropical cyclone hits densely populated urban areas near Brisbane. Continue reading...

Politics

57 h. ago Lithuanian rower attempting to cross Pacific activates emergency beacon off Queensland near Cyclone Alfred

Australian navy ship heading to Coral Sea after Aurimas Mockus calls for help one week out from reaching AustraliaFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA Royal Australian Navy ship is bound for the Coral Sea after a Lithuanian man attempting to row across the Pacific Ocean from San Diego to Brisbane got into trouble.Aurimas Mockus activated his emergency beacon on Friday night about 740km east of Mackay, Queensland, and 90km west of Tropical Cyclone Alfred. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Weather tracker: six cyclones swirl simultaneously in southern hemisphere

Bianca, Garance and Honde churn across Indian Ocean as Alfred, Rae and Seru spin through south-west PacificAn uncommon meteorological event unfolded on Tuesday when six named tropical cyclones were active simultaneously in the southern hemisphere, several in close proximity to one another.Three developed in the south-west Pacific. Severe Tropical Cyclone Alfred formed on 20 February in the Coral Sea to the north-east of Australia, reaching an intensity equivalent to a category 4 hurricane on Thursday with sustained winds of 105mph (170km/h) and gusts at about 140mph. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Satellite image captures three tropical cyclones spinning in the South Pacific at once

Tropical cyclones Rae, Seru and Alfred are churning as the region’s season reaches its peak Three tropical cyclones are churning in the South Pacific, an occurrence that scientists say is unusual.Tropical cyclones Rae, Seru and Alfred are all spinning as the region’s cyclone season, which starts in November and ends in April, reaches its peak. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Tropical Cyclone Alfred yet to intensify as it lingers off Queensland coast

BoM says category 2 Tropical Cyclone Alfred is about 930km north-east of Mackay and is tracking slowly south through Coral SeaFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA slow-moving tropical cyclone off north-east Australia is expected to linger in the Coral Sea for at least the next few days, but forecasters say there remains a risk the system could eventually turn towards the Queensland coast.The Bureau of Meteorology says category 2 Tropical Cyclone Alfred is about 930km north-east of Mackay, and is tracking slowly south through the Coral Sea.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading...

Politics