Cyclone Alfred Likely to Hit Gold Coast of Australia Soon

Along the shores of Gold Coast, Australia, authorities have been warning residents to stay indoors. Dangerous winds give a hint of the coming of the cyclone Alfred. The die-hard surfers of Australia are also giving the word of caution.

Even though the path of the cyclone has been slowed in the recent days, it still seems to move erratically, according to the experts. The cyclone falls under the category two system and is likely to touch the coastline late Friday or early Saturday morning.

“Category two system means winds near the centre up to 95 km/h (59 mph,) which gush up to 130 km/h,” says Matthew Collopsy of the Bureau of Meteorology.

Dangers of the Cyclone

The cyclone appears to be dangerous as many people living along the coast are going to lose their homes. Cyclone Alfred is also expected to dump more than 800 mm of rain in a large area of South Queensland and north New South Wales. In these places, flash and riverine flooding are the biggest concern because of their low-lying surface.

In response to the cyclone, nearly 1000 schools have been closed. Public transport is also suspended while airports are shut. The situation will remain so until Sunday.

The area of Queensland in Australia is no stranger to cyclones because it has been a disaster-prone state, but Cyclone Alfred will travel more southward.