Flood watch issued for Gold Coast as Tropical Cyclone Alfred intensifies

The Gold Coast remains on high alert for Tropical Cyclone Alfred, with warnings it could make landfall in South East Queensland by Thursday.

The cyclone has intensified back into a Category Two system overnight as it continues to track southeast.

As at 4.50am on Monday, Alfred was sitting about 465 kilometres northeast of Brisbane and 410 kilometres east northeast of Maroochydore.

Sustained winds near the centre of the system are currently 95 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 130 kilometres per hour.

The BOM is forecasting Alfred to 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.

An initial flood watch has now been issued for South East Queensland, including Gold Coast rivers and creeks, with close to 300mm of rain forecast to fall from today through to Sunday.

“Rainfall associated with Tropical Cyclone Alfred has the potential to cause major flooding along Queensland coastal rivers from the Maryborough to the NSW Border,” the Bureau of Meteorology said.

“Minor to major flooding may develop across the flood watch area from late Wednesday into Thursday. The location of the most severe flooding will depend on the location of the heaviest rainfall, and the areas at risk will continue to be revised during the coming days.

“Rapid river levels rises and flash flooding is expected across many creeks, associated with the heaviest rainfall with widespread, including major, riverine flooding possible”.

Severe coastal hazards including beach erosion are also likely, with a hazardous surf warning in place for Gold Coast waters.

“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,” BOM said.

“Heavy to locally intense rainfall is forecast for southeast Queensland and northeastern New South Wales from Wednesday as Alfred approaches the coast”.

Beaches across the Gold Coast will remain closed on Monday after being shut by lifeguards over the weekend.

“All Gold Coast beaches will be closed to swimming today due to a large swell and hazardous conditions,” Council said.

“Please heed the advice of lifeguards and stay out of the water”.

For those living in low-lying areas, Council has opened up sandbagging stations, with fears Alfred could cause foreshore flooding.