Cyclone Alfred live updates: Brisbane Airport cancels all flights as Queensland and NSW residents told to evacuate

Scientists are investigating ways to disrupt cyclones before they form, as climate change intensifies the frequency and severity of storms.

Associate Professor Roslyn Prinsley, Head of Disaster Solutions at the Australian National University (ANU), said current disaster preparedness strategies are no longer sufficient to counter escalating cyclone risks.

“As climate change escalates cyclone disaster risks, traditional vulnerability and exposure reduction measures are proving insufficient,” she told our Asia climate correspondent Stuti Mishra.

With Cyclone Alfred threatening heavily populated areas in Southeast Queensland, Dr Prinsley emphasised the urgency of exploring new solutions. ANU researchers are examining direct intervention methods, such as cooling ocean waters in cyclone formation zones using underwater pipes and injecting aerosols into the atmosphere.

“Our findings suggest that aerosols—microscopic airborne particles—show particular promise for influencing tropical cyclones during their formative stages,” she said.

Although such technology cannot be deployed in time to mitigate Alfred’s impact, Dr Prinsley stressed its potential to protect future communities from devastation. “Developing these intervention capabilities could protect future communities from similar threats,” she said.

Researchers believe that successful cyclone intervention could not only save lives but also prevent billions in disaster recovery costs.

The federal government had delivered 310,000 sandbags to Brisbane and more were on the way, prime minister Anthony Albanese said.

“My message to people, whether they be in southeast Queensland or northern New South Wales, is we are there to support you. We have your back,” he told reporters in the national capital Canberra.

A shortage of sandbags in Brisbane, a city of more than three million people, led some to buy sacks of potting mix as an alternative, according to Damien Effeney, a chief executive of a rural supplies business.

“I think between availability and the time that people have to queue to get sandbags, they’re just making the easier choice and grabbing potting mix,” he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, adding one customer bought 30 bags from his store at Samford on Brisbane’s northwest fringe.

Several Brisbane sandbag collection points were either empty or people had to line up for hours to collect available sandbags. A beach volleyball business complained some of its sand had been stolen to fill bags.

Cyclone Alfred was forecast to bring destructive winds and heavy rain by Thursday morning. However, overnight, the system unexpectedly slowed, with landfall now projected for early Saturday.

The delay occurred when the cyclone deviated from its expected path on Wednesday, looping back on itself instead of continuing towards the coast.

“Alfred basically stalled and almost did a loop-de-loop back on itself,” said Christie Johnson, a meteorologist at the Bureau of Meteorology.

The slowdown was caused by a high-pressure ridge over the Tasman Sea, which disrupted the cyclone’s trajectory and reduced wind speeds steering the system.

Professor Liz Ritchie-Tyo, a cyclone expert at Monash University, explained that small deviations in the cyclone’s movement led to weaker steering winds, delaying its approach.

“When it took that sharp turn, it came under the influence of that ridge and they tend to have much lighter winds associated with them,” he told the Guardian.

Acting Police Commissioner Shane Chelepy has warned communities in cyclone-affected regions to brace for severe flooding and storm surges as Cyclone Alfred nears the Queensland coast.

“This is significant rainfall. It won’t only cause flash flooding in areas that are most impacted but prolonged riverine flooding, and it’s important we are preparing now for this potential rainfall,” Mr Chelepy said in a live update.

With waterways already saturated, he cautioned that rivers and creeks would likely swell rapidly under intense rainfall. Emergency services, he assured, are fully mobilised and ready to respond.

However, he urged residents to take immediate precautions, including sandbagging their properties, elevating furniture in low-lying homes, and storing essential documents in waterproof containers.

Mr Chelepy also stressed the dangers of driving through floodwaters.

“This risky behaviour puts yourself, your family, but also our emergency service workers at severe risk when we have to come and rescue you,” he said.

Authorities have called on the public to remain vigilant as Cyclone Alfred brings dangerous weather conditions over the coming days.

“Tropical Cyclone Alfred will make landfall near or just north of Brisbane Friday night, AEST,” AccuWeather’s Lead International Forecaster Jason Nicholls told The Independent.

“The main threat will be heavy rain and flooding over the next few days, but coastal areas can have wind gusts in excess of 60 mph,” Mr Nicholls added.

“Some parts of northeast New South Wales and southeast Queensland have received over 4 inches of rain already. These areas can receive 1-2 feet of rain before the rain winds down early next week.”

Queensland’s energy supplier has warned Brisbane residents that a scam text message is being circulated about power outages.

“There’s a fake/hoax text doing the rounds saying ‘someone’s neighbour’ knows someone in Energex who told them the power will be cut ahead of the cyclone hitting,” an Energex spokesperson said.

“THIS IS NOT TRUE! Energex WILL NOT be turning power off before the cyclone makes landfall.”

The supplier has advised all residents to refer to their website for official advice.

Initially expected to make landfall late Thursday or early Friday, the latest forecast shows Alfred is now moving at a speed of just 7kmph, slowed down by half of its speed on Wednesday.

The storm may not reach the coast until early Saturday now, meaning millions in southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales will endure damaging winds, torrential rain, and dangerous surf conditions for much longer than anticipated, writes Stuti Mishra.