By Liam Walsh, ABC
Tropical Cyclone Alfred dropped from a category two cyclone to a category one before being downgraded to a tropical low. Photo: ABC/Syan Vallance
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.
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. Photo: ABC/Victoria Pengilley
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.
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.
A boat moored on land after ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred passed through Bribie Island. Photo: ABC/Tobi Loftus
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.
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 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 percent capacity and spilling some water. Wivenhoe Dam, critical to the Brisbane River, was at 86 percent capacity.
Crisafulli said details about whether schools in the south-east would return on Monday, would be announced on Sunday.
- ABC
