Cyclone approaching Australia east coast weakens to tropical system
Tropical Cyclone Alfred was expected to be the first cyclone to cross the east Australian coast near the Queensland state capital since 1974
A tropical cyclone weakened into a tropical low weather system on Saturday as it approached Brisbane, Australia’s third-most populous city, bringing flooding rain that was expected to lash the coastal region for days.
Tropical Cyclone Alfred had been expected to become on Saturday the first cyclone to cross the east Australian coast near the Queensland state capital since 1974.
But it weakened early on Saturday to a tropical low, which is defined as carrying sustained winds of less than 63km/h (39mph).
The system was expected to cross the coast north of Brisbane between Bribie Island and the Sunshine Coast region later on Saturday, Bureau of Meteorology manager Matt Collopy said.
“Heavy-to-locally intense rainfall leading to flash and riverine flooding now becomes the major concern as the ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred moves inland,” Collopy said.
Cyclones are common in Queensland’s tropical north but are rare in the state’s temperate and densely populated southeast corner that borders New South Wales state.