4 h. ago Tropical Cyclone Alfred is slowing down – here’s why that makes it more dangerous

The storm may not reach the coast until early Saturday now, meaning millions in southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales will endure damaging winds, torrential rain, and dangerous surf conditions for much longer

Politics

6 h. ago BoM tracking map forecast shows category 2 storm hitting Brisbane and south

This blog is now closed Cyclone Alfred update: NSW and Queensland prepare for flooding as authorities urge ‘do not underestimate this storm’Why did Tropical Cyclone Alfred slow down on its path towards the east coast?What is melioidosis and why do cases spike after flooding and heavy rainfall?Brisbane flood map: suburbs at risk during Cyclone AlfredSpeaking of preparations, adjunct senior lecturer at the Centre for Disaster Studies at James Cook University Yetta Gurtner gives advice here:Chalmers confident insurance companies ‘know their responsibilities’I’m confident they know their responsibilities and obligations to people. Continue reading...

Events

8 h. ago Man detained after allegedly attempting to board Jetstar flight at Avalon airport with ‘large gun’

Victoria police called to airport outside Melbourne on Thursday afternoon after alleged incident on commercial flight Tropical Cyclone Alfred LIVE updates and latest newsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastPolice are investigating after a man allegedly attempted to board a Jetstar flight with a gun, frightening passengers who have described a dramatic citizen’s arrest.Victoria police were called to the airport outside of Melbourne at 2.50pm on Thursday, after reports a man with a firearm attempted to board a commercial flight.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading...

Transport

9 h. ago Send us your photographs and videos of Tropical Cyclone Alfred

Help in our coverage of the cyclone but please put your welfare and the welfare of others first – and follow all safety instructions from authorities How to prepare for a cycloneWhen and where is Cyclone Alfred likely to hit?Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastGuardian Australia’s readers have provided thousands of images and videos to support our coverage of major news events over the past decade.Now, we’re asking for any pictures or videos you can provide to help in our reporting of Tropical Cyclone Alfred but your safety and security are most important.Try to upload the highest resolution possibleLandscape images and video are preferableTell us as much as you can about when and where the photo was taken as well as what was happeningWhen we publish an image we want to credit you so please ensure that we have contact information and your full nameDon’t upload images or videos that you have taken from social media or that don’t belong to you Continue reading...

Culture

9 h. ago Tropical Cyclone Alfred live updates: BoM tracking map forecast shows category 2 storm hitting Brisbane and south

BoM path track map predicts TC Alfred will cross coast on Saturday near Brisbane, the first storm of its size to do so in decades. Follow the latest updates todayWhy did Tropical Cyclone Alfred slow down on its path towards the east coast?What is melioidosis and why do cases spike after flooding and heavy rainfall?Brisbane flood map: suburbs at risk during Cyclone AlfredSpeaking of preparations, adjunct senior lecturer at the Centre for Disaster Studies at James Cook University Yetta Gurtner gives advice here:Chalmers confident insurance companies ‘know their responsibilities’I’m confident they know their responsibilities and obligations to people. Continue reading...

Events

9 h. ago Man detained after allegedly attempting to board Jetstar flight at Avalon airport with gun

Victoria police called to airport outside Melbourne on Thursday afternoon after alleged incident on commercial flight Tropical Cyclone Alfred LIVE updates and latest newsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastPolice are investigating after a man allegedly attempted to board a Jetstar flight with a gun on Thursday afternoon, frightening passengers.Victoria police have confirmed they were called to the airport outside of Melbourne at 2.50pm, after reports a man with a firearm attempted to board a commercial flight.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading...

Transport

22 h. ago Australia tourist hotspot prepares for rare cyclone as locals stack sandbags

Tropical Cyclone Alfred is forecast to hit major city Brisbane and the popular Gold Coast tourist strip over the next 24-48 hours.

Politics

33 h. ago Australia news live: Tropical Cyclone Alfred updates – multiple flights cancelled and airports to close as Crisafulli urges residents to prepare now

Thousands without electricity in Byron Bay region and in Queensland as waves top 10m in Tweed area. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSandbag queues ‘about an hour’ in Brisbane – WellsThe federal sports minister, Anika Wells, also spoke on the Today Show this morning from Brisbane and said it was the “calm before the storm”.At the moment that’s the shortest it’s been in 24 hours. It’s a big couple of days ahead for south-east Queensland. We’re more than up to the task, but everybody’s doing their bit.So everyone’s doing their bit and we thank them for it.We know that there’s going to be damaging winds, there is going to be powerful surf, coastal erosion, and it will be followed by significant rain that can last a couple of days. So we’re really urging people to be alert, to be prepared, just like the SES is. Continue reading...

Society

34 h. ago Australia news live: Tropical Cyclone Alfred updates – multiple flights cancelled and airports to close as storm approaches

Thousands without electricity in Byron Bay region and in Queensland as waves top 10m in Tweed area. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSandbag queues ‘about an hour’ in Brisbane – WellsThe federal sports minister, Anika Wells, also spoke on the Today Show this morning from Brisbane and said it was the “calm before the storm”.At the moment that’s the shortest it’s been in 24 hours. It’s a big couple of days ahead for south-east Queensland. We’re more than up to the task, but everybody’s doing their bit.So everyone’s doing their bit and we thank them for it.We know that there’s going to be damaging winds, there is going to be powerful surf, coastal erosion, and it will be followed by significant rain that can last a couple of days. So we’re really urging people to be alert, to be prepared, just like the SES is. Continue reading...

Society

38 h. ago Australia news live: Tropical Cyclone Alfred updates – army deployed and boats ordered back to harbour as cyclone approaches coast

Thousands without electricity in Byron Bay region and in Queensland as waves top 10m in Tweed area. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSandbag queues ‘about an hour’ in Brisbane – WellsThe federal sports minister, Anika Wells, also spoke on the Today Show this morning from Brisbane and said it was the “calm before the storm”.At the moment that’s the shortest it’s been in 24 hours. It’s a big couple of days ahead for south-east Queensland. We’re more than up to the task, but everybody’s doing their bit.So everyone’s doing their bit and we thank them for it.We know that there’s going to be damaging winds, there is going to be powerful surf, coastal erosion, and it will be followed by significant rain that can last a couple of days. So we’re really urging people to be alert, to be prepared, just like the SES is. Continue reading...

Politics

39 h. ago Australia news live: Tropical Cyclone Alfred updates – power cuts in NSW and Queensland as gale force winds and 10

Thousands without electricity in Byron Bay region and in Queensland as waves top 10m in Tweed area. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSandbag queues ‘about an hour’ in Brisbane – WellsThe federal sports minister, Anika Wells, also spoke on the Today Show this morning from Brisbane and said it was the “calm before the storm”.At the moment that’s the shortest it’s been in 24 hours. It’s a big couple of days ahead for south-east Queensland. We’re more than up to the task, but everybody’s doing their bit.So everyone’s doing their bit and we thank them for it.We know that there’s going to be damaging winds, there is going to be powerful surf, coastal erosion, and it will be followed by significant rain that can last a couple of days. So we’re really urging people to be alert, to be prepared, just like the SES is. Continue reading...

Politics

40 h. ago Australia news live: Tropical Cyclone Alfred updates – gale force winds hit Byron Bay as NSW closes 122 schools and opens evacuation centres

Premier Chris Minns says the Northern Rivers schools have been shut for today and tomorrow; wind gusts over 100km/h recorded in Byron region. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSandbag queues ‘about an hour’ in Brisbane – WellsThe federal sports minister, Anika Wells, also spoke on the Today Show this morning from Brisbane and said it was the “calm before the storm”.At the moment that’s the shortest it’s been in 24 hours. It’s a big couple of days ahead for south-east Queensland. We’re more than up to the task, but everybody’s doing their bit.So everyone’s doing their bit and we thank them for it.We know that there’s going to be damaging winds, there is going to be powerful surf, coastal erosion, and it will be followed by significant rain that can last a couple of days. So we’re really urging people to be alert, to be prepared, just like the SES is. Continue reading...

Events

60 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

63 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

3 d. 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

3 d. 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

3 d. 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

3 d. 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

4 d. 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

4 d. 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