As Queensland and parts of NSW brace for the incoming Cyclone Alfred, TikTok is buzzing with some pretty bonkers footage of people taking to the water despite the storm.
It’s probably all over your FYP already, but while many are hunkering down and preparing for the worst, some Aussies are opting to shred the massive waves.
You can peep the footage here:
Aussies really do be built different.
Naturally, social media’s had a field day with the storm-chasing surfers, with one user quipping, “Alfred did not expect this warm welcome from you all” and another adding Australians are “just divas who like good waves”.
And in case you were wondering how wild the tide’s being right now, Queensland Premier David Crisafulli noted on Thursday morning an insane 12.3 metre wave had been recorded off the Gold Coast’s Main Beach overnight, per news.com.au.
“We have never seen a wave height recorded like that,” he stated.
Surfing legend Mick Fanning was among those who just couldn’t pass up the chance to hit the water this week (you can watch the wild footage here) but even this six-time Australian male surfer of the year said he had met his match with the waves.
Look, you couldn’t get me to the water right now if you tried.
Of course, it’s not just surfers heading out into the wild weather. In one video, two young kids can be seen bracing for a demon of a wave from their vantage point on the foreshore.
In another video, a woman’s standing on steps heading down to the surf and living out her Hilary Duff fantasy aka ~letting the rain crash down and wake her dreams~.
In this one, you can even see plenty of folks heading to higher ground — to catch a better view, I guess? (Honestly, why are we like this?)
But while it’s all fun and games to enjoy the waves, here’s another reminder that we’re experiencing the beginning of a category two cyclone that’s set to put around four million Australians potentially in harm’s way, with billions of dollars of damage expected, according to Treasurer Jim Chalmers.
One TikTok user — who claimed to be a first responder — might’ve put it perfectly when they said such needlessly reckless behaviour can be incredibly frustrating.
Another added: “As a lifeguard, this pisses me off so much. if and when it goes wrong, my crew now have to risk their lives for something entirely preventable.”
“At what point is self-endangerment a crime?” a third TikTok user piped in.
Speaking to the media on Thursday, Brisbane lord mayor Adrian Schrinner warned residents against being “lulled into a false sense of security” as the cyclone’s expected arrival was delayed to later this week, per The Guardian.
“Alfred has slowed down. Which means it’ll make landfall later than anticipated. Now all of the warnings still stand. The risks the hazards associated with Alfred still stand, but we’re just going to have to wait a little bit longer before it strikes land,” he stated.
“This situation has continued to change. It will probably change again, but it is still a highly dangerous situation. It will still potentially bring significant flooding, and we need to take it seriously.”
Not to rain on your parade (pun absolutely intended) but we’re with him on this one — stay safe, y’all.
PS: For anyone looking for information on how to prepare for a cyclone, click HERE. You can check out all the associated cyclone warnings HERE. If you’re in an affected cyclone area, you can find advice HERE.
Lead image: Instagram
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