Australia Weather News

Ex-cyclone Alfred has been downgraded to a tropical low after making landfall as it lashed islands off the coast of Brisbane as a category one cyclone earlier today. 

Alfred is currently sitting off Bribie Island but is moving slowly north and is expected to cross the mainland coast between Maroochydore and Bribie Island during the morning.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has warned that while ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred has been downgraded, "there are still significant challenges ahead".

Among other developments, the premier confirmed: 

Warnings for heavy to intense rainfall that may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding are currently in place for areas south of Brisbane.

A major flood warning is current for the Logan and Albert rivers, with moderate to major flooding possible from later today.

Major flood warnings are also now current for the Bremer River and Worral Creek, with major flooding possible from later in the weekend.

Alerts for abnormally high tides and damaging surf conditions remain in place from Noosa in Queensland to Ballina in NSW.

There are dozens of emergency and watch and act warnings in place for communities in south-eastern Queensland, including evacuation, prepare to evacuate and stay indoors orders.

In New South Wales, SES Commissioner Mike Wassing has described today as D-Day, "irrespective of the crossing of the [ex-]cyclone currently in Queensland".

"We're still seeing very strong winds. More importantly, we're still seeing very heavy rainfalls, and therefore river rises, flash flooding and continued inundation of many areas," he said.

The NSW SES has issued 131 warnings, including 40 emergency warnings, equating to approximately 20,000 people who are now under evacuation warnings, Commissioner Wassing said.

Man missing, power out to almost 250,000

Emergency services have already responded to more than 300 calls in south-eastern Queensland, and flooding in New South Wales has already resulted in 4,252 incidents and a number of rescues.

Almost 250,000 homes are without power across the state's south-east.

On the Gold Coast 119,000 homes are affected, while 43,000 are without power in Redlands and 30,000 in Brisbane.

Rescuers continue to search for one man who was washed into floodwaters in NSW on Friday afternoon.

Emergency services said they received a call about a four-wheel drive that had been washed off a bridge and into fast-running water while driving across Wild Cattle Creek, about 23 kilometres north-east of Dorrigo.

The male driver was able to get out of the car and secure himself to a tree branch about 30 metres from the river bank, where officers from Coffs/Clarence police district were able to speak with him.

However, shortly after 3pm, the man was swept from the tree and went underneath the water, and has not been seen since.

Evacuation orders stretching over dozens of communities in south-eastern Queensland and northern New South Wales have been issued.

The BOM has warned up to 800 millimetres of rain could fall throughout the system, although the threat of storm surges has begun to ease.

Storm surges have already caused significant damage to parts of the coast, with the cyclone producing winds in excess of 100 kilometres an hour.

Gold Coast locals said parts of their famous coastline had already been completely washed away.