As the world watches, nature once again proves it’s an uncontrollable force, with the imminent threat of Cyclone Alfred looming over Australia. This category 2 cyclone is on a collision course with southeast Queensland and the northern NSW coast, prompting urgent calls for readiness and action from well-known figures such as Rennae Stubbs, the former coach of tennis legend Serena Williams.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) reports that Cyclone Alfred is currently positioned approximately 325km east of Brisbane, Australia’s third-largest city with a population nearing 2.5 million inhabitants. Jonathan How, a meteorologist with the Bureau, has warned that the cyclone’s landfall location will determine the severity of its impact, particularly on the southern flank. Areas such as Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and the Northern Rivers are on high alert.
Cyclone Alfred, inching closer at a pace of about 16kmph, is set to make landfall north of Brisbane either on Thursday or Friday. The weather forecasts predict more than half a meter of rainfall, destructive winds, and a high probability of flooding. The cyclone could potentially whip up winds up to a staggering 155km/hr!
Residents in the cyclone’s projected trajectory have been alerted to the situation’s severity and urged to evacuate before the conditions deteriorate further. Public transportation, including trains, buses, and ferry services, have started shutting down as a precaution. The region last experienced a cyclone in 1974, while Brisbane narrowly escaped a cyclone threat in 1990. This time, the threat level is significantly higher.
This looming disaster has not escaped the attention of Rennae Stubbs. A resident of Sydney, the capital of New South Wales, Stubbs took to Twitter on March 5th to express her concern and send a message of love and safety to those in the cyclone’s path.
Queensland Premier, David Crisafulli, has described this as a rare event, noting that this part of the state hasn’t experienced a cyclone in decades. Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, has pledged all necessary resources to aid the state government in rescue operations.
Rennae Stubbs’ concern extends beyond her home country. As someone who spends significant time in Tampa, Florida, she previously offered support when Hurricane Helene hit Florida last year. Numerous other figures from the tennis world, including Coco Gauff, Chris Evert, and Serena Williams’ husband Alexis Ohanian, have expressed their concern and offered support during natural disasters, such as the recent Los Angeles forest fire.
In these testing times, the tennis community has consistently shown its solidarity, offering crucial support and rallying together. This underlines the importance of unity in the face of adversity, whether it’s a powerful cyclone or a devastating forest fire. As Cyclone Alfred threatens southeast Queensland and the northern NSW coast, the world watches, hopes, and prepares.
