The number of claims from Ex-Cyclone Alfred has risen to 74,578 as of noon today, according to the latest Insurance Council of Australia statistics.

Meanwhile, the Climate Council has released scientific analysis that it says shows climate pollution made the storm “more damaging and more costly”.

It says more intense winds were fuelled by record-breaking ocean temperatures, more destructive waves were driven by higher seas and gale-force winds, and more significant rainfall was recorded due to the cyclone’s slow-moving nature and a warmer atmosphere and oceans. 

“The analysis shows that populated parts of southeast Queensland and northern NSW will be more vulnerable to cyclone damage in the future as those three factors get worse due to climate pollution,” the Climate Council said.

The report says slow-moving cyclones could sit for longer over vulnerable communities and cause more damage, and cyclones could track further south and intensify closer to the coast, hitting heavily populated areas.

“Tropical Cyclone Alfred hit many communities battered by repeat disasters in recent years,” Climate Council CEO Amanda McKenzie said.

“In Queensland, every local government area that faced a disaster warning for Alfred also experienced flooding in 2022, and communities in NSW like Clarence Valley, Mid-Coast and Port Macquarie-Hastings have experienced a series of floods, fires and storms since 2019. 

“It’s devastating that these communities are being forced to clean up the mess of climate pollution again and again and again. This report is a stark warning: climate change is driving more damaging tropical cyclones that can travel further south into some of our most heavily populated regions.

“Clinging to polluting fuels through new coal and gas projects, or risky policies like nuclear that delay the switch to renewable power backed by storage, will make future disasters more harmful.”

Click here to download the report.