Flood and severe weather warnings remained current for Queensland and New South Wales on Sunday, despite ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred being downgraded to a tropical low.
Here’s what we know so far.
What’s happening?
Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred reached mainland Queensland between Brisbane and Maroochydore at around 9pm local time on Saturday night. The Bureau of Meteorology said the centre of the tropical low was expected to move inland more rapidly over Sunday while weakening.
More than 330,000 homes and businesses were without power on Sunday morning. Residents in south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales remained on watch for damaging floods and significant rainfall.
In Queensland, the chief operating officer of Energex, Paul Jordan, has said the full restoration of power would take longer than a week. In NSW, Essential Energy, the state-owned electricity infrastructure provider, said debris – including fallen trees and vegetation – would have to be removed before power lines could be assessed and repaired.
On Sunday the Queensland premier, David Crisafulli, said wind gusts of nearly 100km/h hit Toowoomba overnight. He said the state faced the risk of further rainfall leading to flooding on Sunday.
River levels in Lismore’s CBD peaked at 9.31m on Saturday afternoon, below the height of the levee, and continued to fall slowly on Sunday. Emergency warnings for Lismore were reduced from evacuate to “advise return with caution” on Sunday.
Hundreds of schools will remain closed in northern NSW on Monday, with Queensland authorities expected to give an update on schools on Sunday.
What can we expect?
In Queensland, an emergency warning was issued for the Hervey Bay area on Sunday morning, with residents urged to stay indoors. Several watch and act warnings remained in place in south-east Queensland.
Crisafulli warned of continued challenges from localised flooding in Brisbane. Suburban creeks were overflowing on Sunday morning in a familiar pattern that in the past has been the forerunner to more serious flooding.
On Sunday the Bureau of Meteorology said floodwatches in Queensland extended from the Mary River down to the border, including the South Coast creeks, the Logan, Albert River and westward to include the Condamine River and the MacIntyre River. Major flooding was expected for the Bremer River, Laurel Creek and the Logan River.
The bureau warned residents in the NSW Northern Rivers region to expect further heavy rainfall on Sunday and into Monday morning that might lead to flash flooding, including in Lismore, Armidale, Tenterfield, Tamworth, Gunnedah, Moree, Narrabri, Casino and Kyogle.
What’s happening on the ground?
The NSW State Emergency Service on Sunday said flooding and rainfall continued overnight, with further downpours expected on Sunday. The SES responded to 917 incidents in the 24-hour to 10am on Sunday.
More than 14,000 people in NSW remain under weather warnings, with 36 emergency level, the NSW SES deputy commissioner, Damien Johnston, said.
He said in the 24 hours to 10am on Sunday, the SES had responded to 17 incidents involving people driving through flood waters.
“Please adhere to the warnings,” he said.
Johnston said widespread rain will continue in NSW on Sunday and is expected to move over the tablelands to the north-west of the state. This could impact areas like Moree.
The NSW energy and environment minister, Penny Sharpe, said live electricity wires and debris remained risks in the aftermath.
In Lismore, the deputy mayor, Jeri Hall, on Sunday said residents have been without power, and consequently unable to access water, for 72 hours.
“Even though there’s a lot of water around, there’s no toilets or showers where we are. We have been cut off since Thursday morning,” she said.
Tweed shire council urged residents in Bilambil Heights to boil their tap water because of damage associated with the cyclone. The NSW government said it was working to get those warnings lifted as soon as possible.
Have there been any injuries or people going missing?
A 61-year-old man died after his ute was swept off a bridge by fast-moving flood waters at Megan in northern NSW on Friday. Police confirmed his body was found at about 4.30pm on Saturday.
On Saturday, 32 personnel were involved in an incident involving two Australian Defence Force vehicles that rolled off the road at Tregeagle near Lismore, leaving 13 injured, six seriously.
Emergency authorities conducted 30 rescue operations on Saturday for people stuck in flood waters.
What’s the difference between a cyclone and a tropical low?
The main difference between a tropical cyclone and a low pressure system is wind speed, according to the BoM.
Tropical cyclones are low pressure systems with characteristics that include a “warm core” and wind speeds of at least 63km/h extending more than halfway around the cyclone’s centre. They only form when ocean water temperatures are at least 26.5C.
Tropical lows usually have lower wind speeds but can still bring severe thunderstorms and heavy rains.
What support is in place?
Albanese said the government would fast-track disaster recovery payments of $1,000 for adults and $400 for children, for people badly affected by the disaster.
“We will do so expeditiously,” he said. “That is activated 40 hours after the initial impact. The disaster recovery allowance is a payment for up to 13 weeks for people who are unable to work as a direct result of the disaster.”
