Bureau of Meteorology is accused of ‘crying wolf’ as outrage grows over Cyclone Alfred ‘fearmongering’: ‘They shut the city down for this?’

Cyclone Alfred may have lost steam as it hit Australia’s east coast but it has certainly whipped up some backlash online over the Bureau of Meteorology’s dire warnings.

The government weather agency issued alerts throughout the week that southeast Queensland and northeast NSW could be devastated by the category two system – the first cyclone to hit the region in five decades.

It was downgraded to a category one overnight and was not even a cyclone but a tropical low as it neared the coast, though there is still a danger of widespread flooding from prolonged rainfall, particularly in the NSW Northern Rivers. 

The bureau was likely playing it safe after extreme weather events in recent years such as the 2022 Lismore floods and 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires, but some locals weren’t impressed the situation had been painted as perilous. 

‘All that work and money spent on preparation for some drizzle. The mosquitoes are more dangerous than this supposed cat2/tropical low,’ one person said.

‘Of course but they shut the city down and public transport for that,’ another said.

Schools, public transport, supermarkets and airports were closed across the region in the lead up to the weather system hitting.

Some people online mocked the Bureau for ‘crying wolf’ and described the fierce storm as ‘a fizzer’.

The Bureau of Meteorology pointed out the cyclone ‘category’ system refers to wind speed only and urged people to refrain from celebrating just yet as the rain and floods still represent danger.

‘Just as a reminder to everyone, the category of tropical cyclone is based on the wind strength and wind gust speed,’ Bureau meteorologist Miriam Bradbury said.

‘That means we’ve seen those winds backing off over the last few hours, leading to that weakening in the system.

‘However, it doesn’t speak to the rain and flooding risk that we’re still anticipating.

‘The system is no longer a tropical cyclone, but significant, severe weather warnings and flood warnings remain in place, flagging that risk of heavy rainfall, flash flooding and riverine flooding through the rest of Saturday and going into Sunday.’

Despite the risk of flooding, residents have started posting memes and videos poking fun at the bureau’s forecasts.

One Queenslander said the state was determined to ‘rebuild’ in the wake of the carnage and posted a picture of a blown over deck chair.

Another resident posted a tongue-in-cheek video highlighting the ‘damage’ the cyclone caused in his backyard, which showed it wholly unaffected.