<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>338896</docID> <postdate>2025-02-24 16:37:24</postdate> <headline>Cyclone intensifies off coast, set to become ‘severe’</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-338774" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/FNQ-flooding-e1740093787717.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="533" /></p> <caption>A tropical cyclone is forming off the coast of Queensland, and another off Western Australia. Photo: Jamie Hervey</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Savannah Meacham</strong> in Brisbane</span></p> <p><strong>Powerful waves are set to impact Australia's east coast, with a tropical cyclone expected to become "severe" in the coming days.</strong></p> <p>But it remains unclear whether Cyclone Alfred will cross the Queensland coast, ensuring some anxious moments for a flood-hit region.</p> <p>Cyclone Alfred is located about 900km off Cairns in far north Queensland, sitting as a category one system in the Coral Sea after forming on Sunday night.</p> <p>Cyclone Bianca emerged soon afterwards off Western Australia, developing into a category two system that was not expected to threaten the mainland.</p> <p>It remains to be seen whether Cyclone Alfred will impact Queensland's coast, with several scenarios possible in the coming days.</p> <p>Cyclone Alfred is set to intensify into a category three system by Tuesday.</p> <p>"That's classified as a severe tropical cyclone at that point which means the winds are absolutely racing around the centre of Alfred," the Bureau of Meteorology's Angus Hines said.</p> <p>It is likely to stay about 700km offshore in the coming days with the Coral Sea set to cop the strongest winds and most of the system's rainfall.</p> <p>But it will still be influencing Queensland's coastline with strong gusty conditions expected.</p> <p>Some coastal locations have already experienced gusts of up to 70km/hr while showers are also expected to impact eastern parts of Queensland this week.</p> <p>"We also expect a noticeable increase in the size of the waves across the east coast, particularly on Thursday and Friday," Mr Hines said.</p> <p>"Some of these waves could be powerful and potentially damaging."</p> <p>Several outcomes are possible after Thursday including the risk that the cyclone veers closer to regions already recovering from devastating floods.</p> <p>The cyclone could approach or cross the coast from Herbert and Lower Burdekin in the north down to Wide Bay or potentially even further south.</p> <p>North Queensland is still reeling from record rainfall that triggered flooding, claiming two lives and forcing hundreds to evacuate their homes.</p> <p>In another outcome, the cyclone could continue southeast and bring severe weather down to the Tasman Sea, sparing Queensland's coast.</p> <p>The bureau said it believed the cyclone would most likely track south for days and "duck a little bit closer" to Queensland's coast on the weekend.</p> <p>"But of course this could change," Mr Hines said.</p> <p>"The weekend and early next week is looking to be the key time."</p> <p>In WA, another system has emerged barely two weeks after Cyclone Zelia hammered the northwest coast, bringing extensive flooding that cut roads and isolated communities.</p> <p>Cyclone Bianca is now off the coast located in the Indian Ocean well offshore from Exmouth.</p> <p>It is expected to strengthen on Tuesday, remaining far from WA's coast.</p> <p>"By Wednesday, it is forecast to start weakening. No direct impacts are expected at any Australian mainland or Island communities," the bureau said.</p> </body>