SYDNEY (AFP) – A heavily populated stretch of Australia’s eastern coast scrapped major sports fixtures as people battened down yesterday for what could be the first tropical cyclone to pummel the region in 50 years.
Tropical Cyclone Alfred was swirling about 550 kilometres east of major city Brisbane, with models showing it veering towards the mainland later in the day.
Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Dean Narramore said the storm was likely to cross the coast late tomorrow or early Friday, striking land between metropolitan Brisbane and the tourist haven of the Sunshine Coast.
It would be the first tropical cyclone to make landfall in that part of Australia since 1974, Narramore told AFP.
“It’s not record breaking, but it’s definitely a little bit more unusual,” he said.
Some three million people live along the 100-kilometre stretch linking Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, a region known for its balmy weather and golden beaches.
Two opening-round tomorrow night Australian rules football matches – the country’s most popular spectator sport – were postponed to a date yet to be announced, the game’s bosses said.
Australian Football League chief executive Andrew Dillon said the priority was to “do everything we can to ensure the health and safety of everyone” in impacted areas.
Climate researcher Tom Mortlock said unusually warm sea surface temperatures were fuelling the storm.
“Tropical Cyclone Alfred is a reminder that tropical cyclones… can still track further south,” he said.
Researchers have repeatedly warned that climate change amplifies the risk of natural disasters such as bushfires, floods and cyclones.
