Tropical Cyclone Alfred news and updates, Friday March 7

“I’ve spoken about the four challenges the waves, the winds, the rain and the flooding. Queenslanders will experience different impacts from that at different times,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“We’ve seen some wind gusts between 100 and 115km from Moreton Island through to Cape Byron.

“That is expected to increase in the hours ahead as the system moves towards the coast.

“You’ve obviously seen images in overnight and in recent hours of fallen trees and the impact that’s had on homes and cars.

“We do expect that to see thatcontinuing and that has obviouslymade a big impact on the ability toprovide electricity supply.”

Two people have been taken to hospital after intense winds from Cyclone Alfred brought an enormous tree down, crushing a home.

As the dangerous category two tropical cyclone slowly creeps closer to the Queensland and New South Wales coast, damaging winds sent a gum tree crashing down, hitting a home with two people inside.

The tree could be seen lying across the roof of almost the entire home in Currumbin Valley, with some sections completely exposed to the elements, and other sections buckled under the tree’s weight.

“Thankfully, both patients sustained only minor injuries and were transported in stable conditions to the Gold Coast University Hospital,” a Queensland Ambulance Service spokesperson said.

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The Bureau now predicts that Cyclone Alfred will make landfall around 12pm Saturday AEST.

The update comes after the slow moving system completed another loop around itself, and its pace slowed again.

The delay in landfall is bad news for the millions who are already being lashed by the system’s wild winds and rain, with flood concerns growing, especially in northern New South Wales.

When Alfred hits, it is expected to take nine hours to fully cross onto land, potentially bringing its most destructive conditions for hours.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has rallied the country to “hope for the best, but prepare for the worst”, with Tropical Cyclone Alfred now less than 24 hours from landfall on Australia’s eastern coastline.

Mr Albanese, who is coordinating the Government’s response from Canberra, said he had approved the request for 120 ADF personnel to depart immediately for New South Wales as the cyclone’s heavy rains begin to make an impact on local communities.

The ADF will help conduct welfare checks on vulnerable community members and offer support with road clearance, sandbagging and access to critical infrastructure damage assessment and essential services.

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A surfer has been seen being towed out into dangerous waters at Burleigh Heads, ignoring desperately pleas from officials.

“We’re at Burleigh Heads at the moment. There is a jet ski out there. There is a surfer out there, remarkably. I just can’t believe it,” Sunrise host Matt Shirvington said on Friday.

Police and Gold Coast’s acting Mayor Donna Gates have warned those who go on the beach or out into the waters will be fined $16,100.

“Let’s hope they can stay safe and don’t need rescuing, and use resources that otherwise could be used elsewhere.”

NSW Deputy Premier Prue Car has pleaded with residents, asking them to listen to emergency services and avoid ocean and flood water as intense rain is recorded.

“We have seen significant rainfall overnight,” she said.

“ There have been significant floodings, significant potential for future floodings. There have been strong winds.

“Our message to the community is please stay safe and help the SES and authorities by making sure you stay away from the oceans. You do not go near flood waters.

“Make sure you are preparedand if emergency services advise you to do something, please follow their orders and their advice.

“Emergency services are giving advice for very good reasons to keep you safe. It might be about the potential threat of not being able to evacuate.

“It is very, very important. I can’t stress this enough. It is so important to follow the advice of emergency services at all times, so that you and your family can remain safe.”

Upper Crabbes Creek, NSW in the Tweed Shire recorded 199mm of rain in just 24 hours.

Mr Crisafulli warned that Cyclone Alfred will hit Queensland and New South Wales in three waves.

“Now it’s about that rainfall that will come on the back of it,” he said.

“Because the system is so wide, often what happens is as they get closer to the coast, they tighten up in terms of their zone. This one’s still really, really broad.

“So the prospect of a lot of rain today and particularly into the weekend is a real prospect.”

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli says ‘preparation is done’ and that Queensland is ready for Cyclone Alfred.

“The way that Queenslanders have responded has been nothing short of amazing,” Mr Crisafulli told Sunrise.

“Overnight, we saw that system again spin around on itself, but it is coming towards us.

“It remains a category 2. And you’re starting to see that on the Goldie. So we’ve had wind speends of 100km/h recorded at Coolangatta. We’ve seen rainfall totals of about 120mm there as well.

“It’s a system that’s packing a punch but I want Queenslanders to know, particularly those who are going to start to experience a bit more wind during the course of the day in Brissie and the Sunny Coast, I want them to know that the preparation has been done.”

AFL Legend Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin and his model wife Jesinta have been caught up in the cyclone drama engulfing the eastern seabord of Australia.

The 33-year-old Jesinta Franklin shared vision of Buddy as he sprung into action to start preparing for Cyclone Alfred’s arrival.

The Franklins moved to their Gold Coast mansion not long after Buddy retired from the AFL.

On Wednesday he scaled the building and climbed onto the roof to start cleaning gutters with the threat of the storm in the distance.

The skies around Buddy look threatening in the vision, but it didn’t deter the former superstar from getting to work.

​Check out the full story here.​

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued updated advice as Tropical Cyclone Alfred nears, now just 140km away from the coast.

The agency warns the system’s slow-moving path will bring extremely dangerous conditions for a longer period.