The threat of a downgraded tropical cyclone is not over as downpours and flooding continue, with more than 200,000 homes without power and over a dozen defence force personnel injured in a truck accident.
Ex-Tropical 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.
But there is more to come, as forecasters expect up to 700mm of rain and destructive gusts to continue through to Monday.
The Bureau of Meteorology has warned of swollen rivers across southeast Queensland and northern NSW leading to flash flooding with more rain looming.
“Today is all about the rainfall that’s likely to be experienced around southeast Queensland and far northeastern NSW,” said senior meteorologist Dean Narramore on Sunday.
Related story: ‘Stay vigilant’: heavy rain forecast in wake of ex-cyclone
Isolated rainfalls of up to 400mm are expected, with another trough from Central Australia dragging the weather activity inland over northern NSW.
“By Wednesday, the weather system will finally shift all this wet weather to coastal parts of NSW and clearing mid to late week while southeast Queensland should start to see conditions easing from persistent rainfall on Monday,” Mr Narramore added.
But there are signs of southeast Queensland slowly coming back to life after halting services for Alfred’s arrival.
Public transport, excluding trains and Gold Coast buses, will resume on Sunday while shops, supermarkets and service stations are opening on a case-by-case basis.
Ferries to Moreton Bay will resume on Sunday for residents stuck on the mainland or the island.
Brisbane, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast airports are looking to resume flights on Sunday if it is safe to do so.
There were 243,000 outages across the National Broadband Network, most of them in Queensland.
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.
Multiple major flood warnings remain in effect for the Tweed, Richmond, Wilsons, Clarence and Bellinger rivers.
Related story: Alfred downgraded to ex-cyclone as it crosses coast
Lismore deputy mayor Jeri Hall said about 600 people in the region had sought shelter in evacuation centres, adding that all eyes are on the levees possibly overflowing.
“It is hitting us hard and it was only the flood anniversary a couple of weeks ago so everybody is feeling it,” she told the ABC on Sunday.
“We’re still in recovery from 2022. So how long is a piece of string?”
“It really breaks your spirit.”
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 a dozen people.
NSW Police said in a statement the trucks did not collide with each other.
“One vehicle left the roadway and rolled several times into a paddock, and a second vehicle tipped onto its side attempting to avoid the first vehicle.”
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,” he said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Defence Minister Richard Marles said the focus was on the personnel and their families.
“Our ADF heroes were on their way to help Australians in need,” they said in a statement.
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 25km north of Dorrigo on Friday.
He was able to get out of the ute and climb into a tree about 30m from the riverbank but was swept away before emergency personnel could reach him.
