Tropical Cyclone Alfred has slowed down but could intensify

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese provides an update on Tropical Cyclone Alfred on Thursday morning, March 6, 2025.

Transcript

00:00There's been a significant update in where we were from this time yesterday.

00:05This time yesterday, it was anticipated that the cyclone would cross into the territory.

00:14Land crossing would occur in the early hours of tomorrow morning.

00:20It's now anticipated, because it has slowed up somewhat, that that will now be at a later

00:27time.

00:28That's not all good news.

00:30It is important to stress, it is still anticipated this will cross into land and will reach landfall.

00:40It will just do it later.

00:42And a risk is, of course, that in slowing up, that it increases in its intensity, but

00:49at this stage it is still predicted to be Category 2 as it crosses onto land.

00:57It is expected to make an impact on Friday.

01:01We expect three separate hazards, storm surge and high tides along coastal communities and

01:07severe winds as Alfred approaches the coast.

01:11Then rainfall and, of course, potential flash and riverine flooding right into the weekend.

01:18So it's not just a matter, to put it really simply, it's not a matter of just when the

01:23winds die down, everything's then okay.

01:27That could be as the waters are rising and flooding is increasing as well.