Storm Alfred latest: At least 300,000 in blackout as Australian PM warns ‘worse to come’

The Bureau of Meteorology has warned of potential flash flooding across northern New South Wales, with heavy rain expected to continue through Sunday into Monday morning.

Residents in Lismore, Armidale, Tenterfield, Tamworth, Gunnedah, Moree, Narrabri, Casino, and Kyogle have been advised to prepare for six-hourly rainfall totals between 50mm and 100mm, with 24-hour totals reaching up to 150mm. The rainfall is expected to ease by Monday afternoon.

The risk of damaging winds has now eased, but emergency services are urging people to stay off flooded roads, avoid storm drains, and remain vigilant as conditions could change rapidly.

A flood emergency warning has been issued for Queensland’s Fraser Coast, urging residents to “shelter indoors now”.

“Intense rainfall has fallen across the Fraser Coast regional council area leading to flash flooding. Do not drive unless necessary. Remember, if it is flooded, forget it.”

Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred has weakened into a tropical low but continues to bring heavy rainfall, strong winds, and the risk of life-threatening flash flooding across southeast Queensland and northeast New South Wales. The system is moving inland after making landfall late on Saturday.

A tropical low is a weaker low-pressure system that forms over warm tropical waters and can either intensify into a cyclone or dissipate depending on conditions. Unlike fully developed cyclones, tropical lows lack a defined eye and strong wind circulation but can still bring torrential rain, gusty winds, and flooding.

Even though Alfred has weakened, saturated catchments and ongoing heavy rainfall mean flooding risks remain high. Authorities are urging residents to stay alert as rivers continue to rise and flash flooding remains a major concern.

A 23-year-old man has been charged after allegedly threatening State Emergency Service (SES) workers and community members at a sandbag station in northern NSW.

Police said the incident happened at Corindi Beach around 2.30pm on Friday, when the man took sandbags and drove away. He allegedly returned an hour later, took more sandbags from the public, and then threatened an SES worker with a shovel before turning on other emergency workers and locals.

Officers arrested the man and seized a knife, a machete, and the shovel from his vehicle. He was taken to Coffs Harbour police station and charged with intimidation and possessing a knife in a public place.

He was refused bail and appeared at Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday, where he was hit with an additional charge of intimidating a frontline emergency worker.

Alfred spent more than 10 days in the Coral Sea, fluctuating in intensity as it struggled to maintain strength.

According to Associate professor Iftekhar Ahmed, tropical cyclones feed off warm ocean temperatures, but as they move toward shallower waters, they weaken. “The cloud cover generated by the cyclone can also reduce heat gain in the water, limiting further intensification,” he said.

However, even a weakened system can bring destruction. “The wind power has reduced, and Brisbane and southeast Queensland have escaped the worst-case scenario, but Alfred is still dumping heavy rain. Flooding is the main impact to watch out for,” Dr Ahmed added.

Aurimas Mockus, 44, from Lithuania, was stranded for three days in the Coral Sea around 460 miles off Queensland after encountering extreme weather conditions.

He was rescued by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.

Following his rescue. Mr Mockus described “fighting for his life” while he was stranded.

As of Friday, 7 March, thousands in eastern Australia were ordered to evacuate as the cyclone lashed the region with torrential rain, fierce winds, and towering waves, causing widespread power outages, beach erosion, and airport closures.

NSW residents Candice and Matthew Burgess had travelled from Batemans Bay to Currumbin to celebrate a 65th birthday, but their plans were disrupted by power outages on the Gold Coast.

Without electricity, the couple made a quick trip to gather essential supplies to get through the next few days.

“We have a place up here and we came up for Candi’s 65th birthday and that’s all been cancelled,” Mr Burgess told ABC News.

“We had 30 people coming for lunch today but we’re not doing that anymore, so we have about 100 bottles of wine, four bottles of gin and I don’t know how many tonics.”