Power outrages, property damage and panic buying: Millions of anxious residents brace for carnage as fierce cyclone hurtles towards east coast

Millions of residents are being warned to prepare for days without power and minimal access to supplies as Cyclone Alfred wreaks havoc across large stretches of the Australian east coast. 

Queenslanders have already stripped local grocery stores of bottled water and other key essentials as they anxiously wait for the fierce tropical cyclone to hit this week. 

The raging storm is expected to turn west late on Tuesday and re-intensity into a category 2 system as it strikes out on a collision course with the state’s capital. 

The Bureau of Meteorology predicts Alfred will finally make landfall between Brisbane and Noosa, on the Queensland‘s Sunshine Coast, overnight on Thursday. 

The storm, which is currently about 550km off the coast and moving towards the densely populated region at 6km/h, is expected to be the first cyclone to ravage the area in more than 50 years.

Cyclone Alfred is forecast to batter the coast with devastating winds of up to 120km/h and bring days of heavy rainfall as it settles over Queensland’s south-east and northeast New South Wales. 

Gale force winds were expected to continue to develop over the coming days as the cyclone barrels towards land, with Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast, the Gold Coast and Bryon Bay predicted to be the hardest hit. 

There are warnings the system could bring deadly flash floods, with deluges of up to 400mm forecast for Brisbane while the Gold Coast is expected to be hit with 450mm in just three days. 

Gold Coast City Council has already closed its beaches as Tropical Cyclone Alfred hurtles towards the state’s coastline 

Cyclone Alfred is expected to drop a metre of rain as it hits between the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane overnight on Thursday

‘Alfred’s intensity may fluctuate between category 1 and 2 over the next few days, but it is forecast to cross the South East Queensland coast at category 2 strength late on Thursday or early Friday morning,’ the Bureau of Meteorology said.

The cyclone is expected to cause widespread carnage and significant property damage across the region, and residents were already queuing for hours at  the state’s overwhelmed sandbagging stations as they scramble to prepare for the onslaught and safeguard their homes.

Queensland Premier David Crisafuli urged major supermarkets to keep their shelves shocked as best possible and, while none have been cut off so far, he encouraged residents to stock up on essentials before the cyclone hit. 

‘There’s access north and south, so we’re asking the supermarkets to do all they can to bring supplies in and refill those shelves,’ he told Today.

Both Coles and Woolworths said they were doing everything they could to keep shelves stocked with key items.

‘We have extra deliveries on the roads already, with a focus on boosting our supply of meat, milk, bread, water, canned goods, baby formula and toilet paper,’ a Coles spokesman said.

Cruise ships have been rerouted away from the south-east Queensland coast due to the threat of potentially hazardous swells around the Port of Brisbane, while all commercial shipping was directed to evacuate the port on Monday.

Anxious residents have been queueing at sandbag stations across South East Queensland for hours as they scramble to safeguard their homes

Cunard’s Queen Anne and the Norwegian Sun both skipped their scheduled visits to Brisbane. The Norwegian Cruise Line ship has gone straight to Cairns, while Queen Anne sailed to Airlie Beach in North Queensland. 

Premier Crisafuli said schools in impacted areas would likely be closed later in the week that the decision would only be made the day before the storm struck. 

Although Queensland Rail and commuter bus services were still running, CityCat and ferry services on the Brisbane River have already been suspended. 

Private businesses throughout Queensland’s south-east were also making plans on whether to remain open or batten down the hatches. 

Pubs and clubs in and around the Queensland capital are still operating but that was expected to change in the coming days.

‘We’re still not 100 per cent about what we’re doing. We’re still working on a plan,’ Story Bridge Hotel duty manager Tom told Daily Mail Australia.

Gold Coast City Council closed all beaches on Monday morning, with beaches also closed in Byron Bay as SES flood rescue teams get set up in northern NSW.

Village Roadshow told Daily Mail Australia it would close Warner Bros. Movie World, Sea World, Wet’n’Wild, Paradise Country, Australian Outback Spectacular and Topgolf between Wednesday and Friday.

Supermarket shelves are being stripped as people stock up ahead of Cyclone Alfred’s approach to south-east Queensland 

The theme parks are expected to reopen on Saturday, with a decision to be made later in the week.

What’s not being cancelled, at the moment, are the planned AFL and NRL games in Brisbane.

The AFL kicks off its season when defending premiers Brisbane host Geelong on Thursday night at the Gabba.

AFL CEO Andrew Dillon said in a press conference on Monday a decision on whether the game goes ahead could be made just hours before the scheduled 7.50pm start.

‘It (decision on the game) may even be later than that (Thursday morning) because weather patterns are unpredictable,’ he said.

‘The health and safety of our players and fans will be the number one priority in any decision we make.

‘Our opening game is a big game but it’s not the main game. I think the main game for us, at this stage, is to be in contact with the Queensland government and the Bureau of Meteorology.’

In the NRL, the Dolphins host Souths on Friday night at Suncorp Stadium and so far the match is going ahead.

There is expected to be widespread carnage as the cyclone predicted to bring devastating wilds and wild deluges when it hits the coast

The NRL is monitoring the situation closely and Souths are looking to fly up to Brisbane on Wednesday instead of Thursday and get there before the cyclone hits.

Dolphins forward Tom Gilbert said the players were preparing as if they’ll play on Friday night.

‘Look, honestly, we’re keeping a normal week right now, and we’ll just play it day by day,’ Gilbert said.

Suncorp Stadium has been prone to flooding in the past.

In 2022 one NRL game had to be postponed because the field was submerged.

In scenes reminiscent of the Covid pandemic, supermarket shelves are being stripped bare with fears people could be trapped in their homes for days.

Fruit and Vegetable manager at Sam Coco Trading in Brisbane, Troy, told Daily Mail Australia people are trying to get their hands on two things.

‘They’re just taking water and toilet paper,’ he said.

Not a lot is left on some supermarket shelves but the Queensland government is urging the major supermarkets to keep them full

‘Since Covid, they just do it. We prepared for it. Covid has made us used to panic buying.

‘It’s clear as a bell at the moment. There’s no sign of the cyclone but they’re all panic buying. It’s pretty much just staples.

‘There’s about to be plenty of water coming from the sky but they’re still buying it.’

Footage showed one supermarket aisle in Ashgrove, Brisbane, completely stripped of goods, prompting anger from some X users.

‘Absolute stupidity. Panic buying on steroids. Went to the shops today and saw the same thing,’ one person posted.