Cyclone Alfred — what you need to know

Posted 2 weeks ago by David McManus

The severity of a tropical cyclone is ranked in categories from 1 being the weakest to 5 — the strongest. [JamesBrey via iStock]

The NSW Government is coordinating a multi-agency response to the cyclone, which has been forecast to significantly impact Northern NSW and Southern Queensland.

The currently weather modelling suggests that these 15 NSW Local Government Areas (LGAs) will sustain the most immediate impact of the cyclone,

Key points:

In an emergency, you should always call 000

For your own safety, please follow the advice from local emergency services

For the latest updates in your region, including evacuation orders, visit the Queensland SES website and NSW SES website

Tropical Cyclone Alfred is currently intensifying as it approaches Australia’s East Coast, carrying the risk of severe flooding. Authorities are warning residents, particularly in Queensland and northern New South Wales.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued warnings for areas from the Sunshine Coast in Queensland to Byron Bay in New South Wales, urging residents to take immediate action to secure their homes and prepare for potential evacuations.

As of Friday, March 7, 2025, over 43,000 homes in New South Wales and nearly 40,000 in Queensland are experiencing power outages due to the storm’s impact.

People with disability may be uniquely affected by the Category 2 Tropical Cyclone, with the National Disability Insurance Agency stating it is ‘closely monitoring’ the impact.

NDIS participants are urged to visit the ‘offices and contacts in your area’ page for the most up-to-date information about NDIS and partner offices.

The NDIS staff are prioritising participants affected by Cyclone Alfred during this time and can be contacted by phone at 1800 800 110.

If you need urgent repairs or replacement of assistive technology, the NDIS National Contact Centre can help get funds authorised over the phone.

Many councils are sharing visual dashboards of impact zones, where to go for sandbags or support and information about understanding your local hazards.

Cyclone Alfred, currently a Category 2 storm, is expected to bring widespread rainfall, with some areas forecast to receive up to 800mm of rain. This has the potential to cause life-threatening flash floods and landslides.

The cyclone’s slow movement means heavy rainfall could continue for several days, increasing the risk of severe flooding across saturated regions.

For ongoing updates, the Bureau of Meteorology and local emergency services should be consulted regularly.

Along with staying up to date with the latest information through subscribing to the Bureau of Meteorology tracking app, it is important to understand what the warning notifications mean for you and your loved ones. The Queensland Government has published an explainer to help you coordinate your emergency response.

Important resources in Queensland: