Severe winds lead to evacuation orders and power outages affecting 80,000 households in Queensland and New South Wales.

As of Friday afternoon, Cyclone Alfred was located 125km east of Brisbane, gradually moving towards the densely populated coastline at a slow pace; it is expected to make landfall early Saturday morning, according to government forecasts.

“In the face of nature’s fury, Australians stand united. We support each other and watch over our neighbors,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese remarked.

According to Matt Collopy, the manager of the Bureau of Meteorology, the storm is forecasted to weaken as it nears Brisbane.

“While catastrophic winds are not expected in Brisbane itself, wind gusts potentially reaching 120km/h are anticipated and will develop rapidly as the cyclone approaches,” Collopy stated.

Al Jazeera’s Sarah Clarke, reporting from Brisbane, noted that the storm’s slow progress allows for large population centers in Australia to prepare and evacuate. She added that while the situation in Brisbane remains calm, conditions along the eastern coast are deteriorating. Large waves have already been reported on the Gold Coast as the storm approaches.

In northern New South Wales, local emergency services are aiding in the search for a man who was reportedly swept away by floodwaters after his truck was washed off a bridge.

Widespread Disruption Caused by Cyclone

Up to four million people reside in areas that the cyclone’s path is expected to cross, affecting the regions of Queensland and New South Wales. Approximately 80,000 homes have been left without power as strong winds have felled trees and downed power lines.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has expressed that the storm has already inflicted significant damage, with conditions expected to worsen upon landfall on Saturday morning. Images from AFP showed a yacht crashing onto the rocks after its moorings broke due to the storm. Additionally, two individuals narrowly escaped after a large tree crashed through the roof of a house in rural Currumbin Valley.

Acting chief superintendent of the State Emergency Service Stuart Fisher has reported that around 19,000 individuals were ordered to evacuate their homes by noon in New South Wales to avoid being trapped by the impending floodwaters. There is special concern for the town of Lismore, which experienced unprecedented 14-meter-high floodwaters in 2022 following heavy rainfall.

Residents have been bracing for the impact of Cyclone Alfred by reinforcing their homes, securing loose outdoor items, and stockpiling supplies.

Alfred’s expected landfall would mark the first time a cyclone has hit this part of Australia since 1974, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. Climate change has been highlighted by researchers as a factor that is increasing the risk of natural disasters, including bushfires, floods, and cyclones.