Sunshine Coast residents are being urged to prepare for Cyclone Alfred possibly making landfall.
It is currently a Category 2 system about 410 kilometres east northeast of Maroochydore.
In the weather bureau’s latest cyclone update issued at 4.52am today Cyclone Alfred will continue its current southeastwards motion, further away from the Queensland coast, during Monday.
Alfred is then expected to slow down and turn westward from Tuesday, moving towards the southern Queensland coast.
Severe coastal hazards are likely for southern Queensland and northern New South Wales coasts.
A large and powerful to potentially damaging easterly swell as well as abnormally high tides are occurring about exposed southern Queensland beaches, and are forecast to extend to northern New South Wales coast from Monday.
Heavy to locally intense rainfall is forecast for southeast Queensland and northeastern New South Wales from Wednesday as Alfred approaches the coast.
It’s possible Alfred will cross the coast on Thursday although it still isn’t clear exactly where.
Meteorologist Jonathan How said storm surges are also possible.
The Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli said residents should clean up their yards and secure loose items or take them inside.
Councillor Natoli also wants us to check on older neighbours, friends and family to make sure they are aware of the latest information about the cyclone.
She also wants us to make sure we have enough food and water in case the power is out for an extended period.
The Council is keeping a close watch on low-lying areas of the Sunshine Coast.
There are concerns for Golden Beach and Pelican Waters which aren’t as protected from big swells since the ocean broke through Bribie Island.
Council will sandbag at the low-lying Caloundra Powerboat club this morning and install a large geotextile sandbag.
Sandbags are available from the SES depot in Caloundra at Elm St South or the Lighthouse rugby club on Arthur St.
You can access the latest info on the cyclone online by going to the Sunshine Coast Council’s Disaster Hub.
There’s also a Disaster Dashboard on Noosa and Gympie Council’s websites.
