Ace Breaking News – Authorities are warning about potential flooding and flash floods in south-east Queensland and northern NSW following the downgrade of Tropical Cyclone Alfred Here’s what occurred today.

Saturday, March 8

At 12am AEST, Alfred was downgraded to a category one system.

But the BOM warned south-east Queensland and northern NSW were not out of the woods yet.

Updated forecasting predicted the eye of the cyclone would cross over the mainland at about 6-7am.

As gale-force winds were clocked in Brisbane City, more than 200,000 residents were recorded as being without power in south-east Queensland at 2am.

Mr Crisafulli confirmed generators had been deployed to keep essential services up and running, with restoration efforts planned to begin as soon as conditions would allow.

Flooding alerts were issued across the Gold Coast and northern New South Wales and many residents were told to prepare to evacuate.Loading…

At about 5am, the BOM told ABC News Breakfast that the system was slowing down and losing momentum over the water.

Alfred spent the day on Brisbane’s doorstep.

But before it ever made landfall, the system was downgraded to a tropical low.

Now, the main concerns were the risk of flooding caused by sustained rainfall, and the restoration of power.

Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred posing flood risk to Queensland, northern NSW

A number of flood warnings are active from the Sunshine Coast to Lismore.

Thousands of homes and businesses remain without power in south-east Queensland and northern NSW.

Authorities are wary of potential flooding in south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales even after Cyclone Alfred weakened to a tropical low on Saturday morning.

“While it has been downgraded, very serious risks remain,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.Loading…

The weather system was near Bribie Island, north of Brisbane, on Saturday, and moving slowly toward the mainland.

Forecasts had the system moving inland between Kingaroy and Dalby.

Its intensity had dropped from a category two cyclone to a category one as it ploughed into Moreton Island close to midnight on Friday. 

It then blew through the island at about 1am, weakening further as it went, and was downgraded from a tropical cyclone at 6am.

A man in NSW remains missing after his four-wheel drive was swamped and he was swept away, and almost 300,000 homes and businesses in the area were without power after the wild weather lashed the mainland.

Fears of gale-force winds lashing densely populated housing in south-east Queensland were abated as the cyclone weakened. But the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) also warned that thunderstorms, potentially with intense wind, remained a threat.

The biggest risk facing communities is the threat of flooding. (ABC News: Victoria Pengilley)normal

Flood warnings in place

Flood warnings were in place from the Sunshine Coast to Lismore, which has suffered repeated inundation in the past 15 years.

NSW Premier Chris Minns also urged people not to be lulled into a false sense of security even with the cyclone being downgraded. 

“This can’t be … trivialised,” he said.

Alerts in south-east Queensland were downgraded from the highest level “emergency warning” to “watch and act”, which includes having people monitor conditions.

Damage ranged from trees pulling down powerlines to smashing into cars and homes. Iconic tourist beaches have been gouged away from massive beach swells.

One apartment block on the Gold Coast had its roof blown off. Loading…

In NSW, authorities said 42,600 homes and businesses were without power between Tweed Heads and Grafton.

Queensland’s more densely populated regions were hit harder.

“We’re currently approaching a quarter of a million homes without power,” Premier David Crisafulli said.

“That’s the single biggest loss we have seen in over a decade since Cyclone Oswald hit the state in 2013.”

Queensland state-backed energy business Energex warned that “this will not be a quick fix”.

“Damage assessment is a painstaking process,” Energex told customers.

Flash flooding could catch ‘motorists unaware’

Brisbane Airport said work was underway and it hoped to restart operations on Sunday. Gold Coast Airport also hoped to open on Sunday if safety and weather conditions allowed.

A boat moored on land after ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred passed through Bribie Island. (ABC News: Tobi Loftus)normal

Authorities remained concerned about the impact of flooding from rainfalls of up to 800 millimetres predicted in the next 48 hours in some spots.

“The primary concern is about heavy rainfall amounts,” the BOM’s Matthew Collopy said.

No loss of life or missing persons were recorded in Queensland but acting police commissioner Shane Chelepy said warned rapid flash flooding “could catch our motorists unaware”.

“This flash flooding could pose a significant risk to life today, particularly if you drive into floodwaters or play in those floodwaters,” he said.

Hinze Dam at the Gold Coast was at 109 per cent capacity and spilling some water. Wivenhoe Dam, critical to the Brisbane River, was at 86 per cent capacity.

Mr Crisafulli said details about whether schools in the south-east would return on Monday, would be announced on Sunday.

Ex-Cyclone Alfred live: Anthony Albanese warns ‘worse to come’ with major floods expected, Brisbane spared brunt of cyclone

@acenewsservices

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the downgrading of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred is not a reason for complacency, with the “worse to come in the hours ahead.”

Flooding is now the major concern for parts of south-east Queensland and northern NSW.

Follow our live updates below.

Stay up to date with the latest emergency warnings

ABC Emergency will broadcast regular warnings on ABC Radio. You can find more information by clicking here, including a map of all the warnings.

• Brisbane — 612 AM, 106.1 FM and Digital Radio
• Gold Coast — 91.7 FM and Digital Radio
• Sunshine Coast — 90.3 FM and 95.3 FM
• Tweed, Lismore and surrounds — 94.5 FM
• Grafton — 738 AM
• Coffs Harbour and Mid North Coast — 92.3 FM and 684 AM
• Port Macquarie — 95.5 FM
• Taree — 756 AM

You can also find these stations on the ABC Listen App.

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