Tropical Cyclone Alfred was downgraded to a tropical low weather system as it stalled within a few kilometres of the Australian mainland on Saturday morning, but warnings about severe wind and rainfall remain in place across southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales.
More than 200,000 people in south-east Queensland lost power overnight – more than half of those on the Gold Coast – as destructive winds heralded Alfred’s passage through Moreton Bay.
The tropical cyclone reached the Moreton Bay islands in the early hours of Saturday, picking up speed but losing some intensity. It was downgraded from a category 2 tropical cyclone to a category 1 about 1am.
At 6am Alfred was downgraded again by the Bureau of Meteorology, effectively cancelling cyclone warnings – but not other weather warnings – from Noosa to Brisbane. The bureau referred to “Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred” which has stalled in Moreton Bay near Bribie Island, about 55km north of Brisbane, and tracked further to the north.
It was still expected to cross into the mainland later on Saturday and to bring severe rainfall and potentially life-threatening flash flooding.
The bureau said Alfred was moving northwest about 9km an hour.
“Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred lies off Bribie Island and is moving slowly north,” it said at 6am.
“Gales are no longer occurring over coastal or island locations. It is expected to move towards and cross the mainland coast this morning, with winds weakening further as it moves inland.”
“Despite its weakening, heavy rainfall is likely to continue over southeast Queensland and northeast New South Wales during the weekend.”
Residents in the region experienced a wild night of strong winds and rain. They have been warned to stay indoors for much of Saturday, and that the “prolonged crossing” could mean that severe wind and rain remain a threat for an extended period.
Forecasters had warned that the most serious threat would come from rain after Alfred’s arrival. Some places could record 800mm multiple-day totals. River catchments from south-east Queensland to the Nambucca Valley in New South Wales were already full, after days of persistent rain that prompted some evacuation warnings.
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There are grave fears for the safety of a man whose vehicle was washed off a bridge by fast-moving flood waters near Dorrigo in northern New South Wales on Friday afternoon.
The NSW State Emergency Service said it had received more than 8,000 calls for help.
There were 40 evacuations orders in place in NSW.
Read more of Guardian Australia’s Tropical Cyclone Alfred coverage:
Source: www.theguardian.com