The next tropical cyclone expected to emerge in Australian waters will be named “Alfred,” following a decision by the Bureau of Meteorology to avoid confusion with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Initially, the cyclone was set to be called “Anthony,” but the bureau opted to reorder the naming convention to prevent mix-ups with the Prime Minister’s name. This change comes after Tropical Cyclone Zelia impacted Western Australia last week.
The Bureau maintains a tradition of alternating cyclone names between male and female, with “Alfred” now representing the next male name on the list. There is a possibility that this name will be assigned to a low-pressure system in the Coral Sea, should it develop into a cyclone over the weekend. Following “Alfred,” the next female name scheduled is “Bianca.”
Australia has been naming tropical cyclones since 1963, a practice aimed at improving public awareness and communication regarding severe weather events. Cyclone names were initially female, with examples like Audrey and Bessie being introduced in 1964. It wasn’t until 1975 that male names were incorporated, making the system more inclusive while still maintaining its colloquial roots in alphabetical order.