The Australian Prime Minister has issued a warning that there will be “worse to come” as a tropical weather system results in heavy rain, strong winds, and flooding along the east coast. Although Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, which is now downgraded to a tropical low, is currently impacting parts of Queensland and New South Wales, further downpours are expected. The Prime Minister emphasized the need for vigilance and preparedness in his update, stressing that the impact will intensify over the weekend and the following days. In New South Wales, a 61-year-old man who went missing in a flooded river near Dorrigo has been confirmed dead. The cyclone was initially predicted to be the first to cross the east Australian coast in the region since 1974, but it weakened to a tropical low, with sustained winds of less than 39mph. Numerous flood warnings have been issued, and the Bureau of Meteorology warns of rapid river rises and the risk of flash floods. The Prime Minister cautioned against complacency due to the cyclone’s weakening and emphasized the dangers of flood-prone areas. The effects of the weather events include fallen trees damaging infrastructure and erosion affecting famous beaches. Power outages have impacted thousands of homes and businesses, with the current outage being the largest due to a natural disaster in the region’s history. Emergency services are working to restore power and clear debris. The Bureau of Meteorology forecasts heavy rainfall of up to 200-300mm and wind gusts up to 90kph, with a severe weather warning in place for areas affected. A gradual easing of the rainfall is expected by Monday night, dependent on the system’s movement across the country.

Source: https://news.sky.com/story/cyclone-alfred-worst-is-yet-to-come-warns-australian-pm-as-heavy-rain-and-flooding-batter-east-coast-13323931