Tropical Cyclone Alfred changing track, growing in strength

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Tropical Cyclone Alfred is getting stronger and is now starting to shift its path southwards, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

The system has been intensifying since last week and is now classified as a category 2.

The tropical cyclone is expected to increase in strength and is likely to reach category 3 by this evening, according to the bureau's forecast this morning.

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The department's been tracking Tropical Cyclone Alfred since it developed off the north Queensland coast on Sunday.

Its strength has increased as it moved south over the Coral Sea.

Alfred is approximately 950 kilometres north-east of Mackay and 1000 kilometres east-northeast of Townsville.

The Bureau of Meteorology said it is moving at a slow pace.

https://x.com/BOM_au/status/1894205103231435177

Alfie's been heading east for a few days, but the cyclone is tipped to take a southerly turn later today.

The Bureau of Meteorology is very confident that it will keep clear of the Queensland coast through the middle of the week.

"After that, the track becomes very unpredictable and there's a chance it could move closer to the central Queensland coast over the weekend," it was said.

as a federal poll is looming.

At the moment, the cyclone's influence on Queensland's weather is mainly causing strong gusty winds.

The bureau has issued strong wind warnings for coastal waters off Townsville and Mackay, the Capricorn coast and Fraser Island, which will be in effect for today and tomorrow.

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