Cyclone Alfred live updates: flood warnings as storm crosses coast; Brisbane battered by strong winds
Key events
Meanwhile, thousands of locals have been evacuated and many cannot yet return home as the river levels rise.
The weather event turned deadly when a body, believed to be a 61-year-old man, was found after a day-long search. The man’s ute was swept into floodwaters at Megan, about 25 km north of Dorrigo.
He was able to get out of the ute and climb into a tree about 30 metres from the riverbank but was swept away before emergency personnel could reach him.
Crisafulli vowed to provide any assistance to NSW neighbours as the flood emergency worsened. He told reporters:
Whilst there’s a border that separates our responsibility, it doesn’t separate our compassion for a fellow human.
If those communities cop it again and we can assist them, we’ll be there.
– Australian Associated Press
More to come in the next post.
Northern NSW is facing a flooding crisis with multiple major flood warnings in place for the Tweed, Richmond, Wilsons, Brunswick, Orara, Clarence and Bellinger rivers.
Major flooding is also expected at the Wilsons River, which runs through Lismore, where the water height is predicted to reach about 10.6m, touching the top of the levee.
The emergency disaster has also impacted those sent to help flood victims with two army trucks crashing south of Lismore on Saturday, injuring more than 30 people.
NSW Premier Chris Minns was concerned to hear of the injuries and said the state’s emergency services would provide all necessary support:
They came to the Northern Rivers to help keep this community safe.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Defence Minister Richard Marles said the focus was on the personnel and their families in a joint statement:
Our ADF heroes were on their way to help Australians in need.
– Australian Associated Press
More to come in the next post.
Brisbane region battered by heavy winds as storm crosses the coast
Our first few posts will be an overview of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred’s movement and impact in the last 24 hours, and a look at what is to come, courtesy of Australian Associated Press:
More than 200,000 homes remain without power and the threat of a tropical cyclone is not yet over despite the system being downgraded.
Ex-cyclone Alfred began moving as a tropical low from Queensland’s Bribie Island, across the coast, and inland towards the state’s southwest on Sunday.
The weakened storm still packs a punch, with the Brisbane region being battered by rain and strong wind gusts on Saturday night, including 100km/h recorded in Redcliffe and more than 70km/h at Brisbane Airport.
And there is more to come, as forecasters expect up to 700mm of rain and destructive gusts continuing through to Monday.
“We don’t know what the weather will bring, the system remains active,” Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said.
More to come in the next post.
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
Alfred crossed Moreton Island as a category 1 tropical cyclone just after midnight on Saturday morning. It weakened below tropical cyclone intensity at 6am that day.
The centre of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred made landfall around 8pm AEST Saturday over Bribie Island, then onto the mainland around 9pm.
BoM forecasts Alfred to move inland more rapidly today while weakening.
But the effects of the storm are already being felt over a large area.
We will be bringing you updates throughout the day.
