A tropical cyclone that once carried the ominous name Alfred has downgraded to a tropical low as it edges closer to Brisbane, Australia’s third-largest city. Despite its reduced strength, the storm is still packing a punch, drenching the coastal region with heavy rain and causing significant flooding.

Initially, Tropical Cyclone Alfred was predicted to become the first cyclone since 1974 to cross the eastern coast near Queensland's capital, Brisbane. On Friday, it was barreling westward, with sustained winds of 59 mph and gusts reaching up to 81 mph. But by early Saturday, Alfred had fizzled into a tropical low, defined by sustained winds of less than 39 mph. Still, its weakened state hasn’t entirely spared southeast Queensland and northeast New South Wales from its wrath.

The Bureau of Meteorology reported that the system was expected to make landfall between Bribie Island and the Sunshine Coast region later on Saturday. While cyclones are a common feature in Queensland's tropical north, they rarely venture into the more temperate, densely populated southeast corner bordering New South Wales. Consider this an uninvited guest in a neighborhood unaccustomed to such dramatic weather events.

"Despite its weakening and moving inland, heavy rainfall and coastal surf impacts are expected to continue over southeast Queensland and northeast New South Wales during the weekend," the bureau cautioned. This statement might as well have been a polite way of saying, "Brace yourselves, it’s not over yet."

The impact has been substantial. Rivers in Queensland and New South Wales are overflowing after days of relentless rain. New South Wales rescue teams have had their hands full, pulling 39 people from floodwaters. One man remains missing after being swept away by a river on Friday. Meanwhile, over 19,000 people have been evacuated from low-lying areas, and more than 250,000 homes and businesses—predominantly in Gold Coast city—are left without power. Alfred might not be in cyclone form anymore, but it’s proving that even a "low" can wreak high levels of havoc.

Cyclone News

Cyclone Alfred Weakens as It Closes in on Australia's East Coast