As south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales prepare for Tropical Cyclone Alfred to cross the coast, an Australian researcher explains what makes this system so unusual.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred has turned west and is heading towards Australia’s east coast as residents in NSW’s Northern Rivers region prepare for the “great unknown” of another natural disaster. Alfred is expected to make landfall as a category 2 storm near Brisbane late on Thursday or early Friday,

Chaos has erupted at some sandbagging sites as Queenslanders bunker down ahead of Tropical Cyclone Alfred smashing into the coast.

Alfred's intensity may fluctuate in the coming days, but it is expected to make landfall at category 2 strength late Thursday or early Friday morning. It will be the first time the south-east has been in the direct firing line of a tropical cyclone in several decades.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred is expected to cross the south-east Queensland coast later this week, bringing significant wind, rain and coastal impacts.

Australia's east coast is preparing for the arrival of a tropical cyclone that is moving towards Brisbane, the country's third-most populous city. Authorities warned that thousands of properties are at risk from strong winds and flash flooding.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred is likely to hit north of Brisbane. As of March 4, 2025, the cyclone was sitting at a category 2 whilst offshore near the Sunshine Coast.