5 h. ago Floodwaters still threaten parts of Australia's east coast as tropical storm cleanup begins

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has cautioned that the fallout from a vicious tropical storm over the weekend was “far from over.”

Events

6 h. ago NSW and Queensland floods update: BoM defends forecasts after claim coastal community not properly warned

Bureau urged to review its systems after Fraser Coast mayor says Hervey Bay was pelted with 260mm of rain after being told it was not in firing lineEx-Cyclone Alfred LIVE: latest news and updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Bureau of Meteorology has defended its forecasting against criticism it failed to give the coastal Queensland community of Harvey Bay enough notice of a torrential downpour in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Alfred.The Fraser Coast mayor, George Seymour, said the bureau should review its systems, claiming the area was not adequately warned before it was pelted with more than 260mm of rain in a few hours on Sunday, sparking an emergency situation and about a dozen rescues.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading...

Events

27 h. ago AFL WAG Jesinta Franklin shares the devastating outcome of Tropical Cyclone Alfred as she hunkers down at $8.75million Gold Coast  mansion with husband Buddy and their children

Jesinta Franklin has updated her fans on the state of her Gold Coast home after it was battered by Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. 

Economics

46 h. ago Storm Alfred latest: Fresh evacuation orders issued as former tropical cyclone hits Australian coast

Alfred has been downgraded to tropical low as it lingers close to Queensland

Events

46 h. ago Western Australia election: Liberals fail to attract swing required as Labor secures third

WA Labor will hold a third term in office, with the early vote count showing the Liberals failing to gain traction with any significant swing• Western Australia has one story about the gas industry. It won’t accept dissent from ‘over east’Labor will govern for a third term in Western Australia, with the Liberal Party failing to attract the swing required to threaten Roger Cook’s majority.Polls predicted a 12-13% swing could put up to 11 seats in reach of the Liberal party. Continue reading...

Politics

49 h. ago 1 dead and several injured as tropical low tracks west across Australian east coast

Officials say flooding rains will continue for days to lash a region of the Australian east coast even though it avoided its first tropical cyclone in 51 years

Events

61 h. ago Cyclone Alfred weakens to tropical low off Queensland coast as authorities warn of severe rainfall and flash flooding

Hundreds of thousands without power in Queensland, with premier calling it the ‘single biggest loss we have seen in over a decade’Tropical Cyclone Alfred LIVE: latest news and updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastTropical Cyclone Alfred was downgraded to a tropical low weather system as it stalled within a few kilometres of the Australian mainland on Saturday morning, but warnings about severe wind and rainfall remain in place across southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales.More than 280,000 people in south-east Queensland lost power overnight – more than half of those on the Gold Coast – as destructive winds heralded Alfred’s passage through Moreton Bay. Queensland premier, David Crisafulli, said they were the “single biggest loss we have seen in over a decade”.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news emailTropical Cyclone Alfred LIVE: latest news and updatesNo one is sleeping in Murwillumbah. All we can do now is wait for Tropical Cyclon...

Events

61 h. ago Albanese warns against complacency as Cyclone Alfred weakens to tropical low off Queensland coast

Hundreds of thousands without power in Queensland, with premier calling it the ‘single biggest loss we have seen in over a decade’Tropical Cyclone Alfred LIVE: latest news and updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralians must not become complacent about the dangers posed by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred after it was downgraded to a tropical low weather system on Saturday morning, the prime minister warned.Tropical Cyclone Alfred was downgraded to a tropical low weather system as it stalled within a few kilometres of the Australian mainland on Saturday morning, but warnings about severe wind and rainfall remain in place across south-east Queensland and northern NSW.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news emailTropical Cyclone Alfred LIVE: latest news and updatesNo one is sleeping in Murwillumbah. All we can do now is wait for Tropical Cyclone Alfred, the malevolent beastWhen and where will the cyclone hit? Everything we know so far about TC Alfred...

Events

63 h. ago Cyclone Alfred weakens to tropical low off Queensland coast as storm winds leave 200,000 without power

Bureau of Meteorology warns weather system still expected to bring severe rainfall and dangerous flash floods to mainlandTropical Cyclone Alfred LIVE: latest news and updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastTropical Cyclone Alfred was downgraded to a tropical low weather system as it stalled within a few kilometres of the Australian mainland on Saturday morning, but warnings about severe wind and rainfall remain in place across southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales.More than 200,000 people in south-east Queensland lost power overnight – more than half of those on the Gold Coast – as destructive winds heralded Alfred’s passage through Moreton Bay.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news emailTropical Cyclone Alfred LIVE: latest news and updatesNo one is sleeping in Murwillumbah. All we can do now is wait for Tropical Cyclone Alfred, the malevolent beastWhen and where will the cyclone hit? Everything we know so far about TC Alfred‘I’m ready’...

Politics

3 d. ago Cyclone Alfred latest: Storm already ‘packing a punch’ as nearly 100k without power across Gold Coast and NSW

Thousands ordered to evacuate as Cyclone Alfred batters Australia's east

Events

3 d. ago Australian homes lose power and people told to evacuate as tropical cyclone approaches

Tens of thousands of homes and businesses lost power and people were ordered to evacuate their flood-prone homes Friday as part of the Australian east coast was lashed by wind and rain ahead of its first tropical cyclone in 51 years

Politics

3 d. ago Cyclone Alfred latest: Storm already ‘packing a punch’ as 82k without power across Gold Coast and NSW

Thousands ordered to evacuate as Cyclone Alfred batters Australia's east

Events

3 d. ago Cyclone Alfred latest: Storm already ‘packing a punch’ as 70k without power across Gold Coast and NSW

Thousands ordered to evacuate as Cyclone Alfred batters Australia's east

Events

3 d. ago Watch live: Cyclone Alfred nears Australia’s central east coast as NSW residents told to evacuate

Watch live as Cyclone Alfred heads towards Australia’s central east coast, bringing torrential rain, destructive winds, and storm surges.

Politics

4 d. ago Cyclone Alfred: Why rare storm is so unusual and the 'devastating' impact it could have

Australia's east coast is bracing for a rare tropical cyclone to hit

Events

4 d. ago BoM tracking map forecast shows category 2 storm hitting Brisbane and south

This blog is now closed Cyclone Alfred update: NSW and Queensland prepare for flooding as authorities urge ‘do not underestimate this storm’Why did Tropical Cyclone Alfred slow down on its path towards the east coast?What is melioidosis and why do cases spike after flooding and heavy rainfall?Brisbane flood map: suburbs at risk during Cyclone AlfredSpeaking of preparations, adjunct senior lecturer at the Centre for Disaster Studies at James Cook University Yetta Gurtner gives advice here:Chalmers confident insurance companies ‘know their responsibilities’I’m confident they know their responsibilities and obligations to people. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago Tropical Cyclone Alfred live updates: BoM tracking map forecast shows category 2 storm hitting Brisbane and south

BoM path track map predicts TC Alfred will cross coast on Saturday near Brisbane, the first storm of its size to do so in decades. Follow the latest updates todayWhy did Tropical Cyclone Alfred slow down on its path towards the east coast?What is melioidosis and why do cases spike after flooding and heavy rainfall?Brisbane flood map: suburbs at risk during Cyclone AlfredSpeaking of preparations, adjunct senior lecturer at the Centre for Disaster Studies at James Cook University Yetta Gurtner gives advice here:Chalmers confident insurance companies ‘know their responsibilities’I’m confident they know their responsibilities and obligations to people. Continue reading...

Events

5 d. ago Residents prepare for the first cyclone in 51 years to hit the Australian coast near Brisbane

Residents are stacking sandbags to protect low-lying properties ahead of a tropical cyclone that is forecast to become the first in 51 years to hit the Australian east coast near Brisbane, the nation’s third-most populous city

Events

5 d. ago Australia news live: Tropical Cyclone Alfred updates – multiple flights cancelled and airports to close as Crisafulli urges residents to prepare now

Thousands without electricity in Byron Bay region and in Queensland as waves top 10m in Tweed area. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSandbag queues ‘about an hour’ in Brisbane – WellsThe federal sports minister, Anika Wells, also spoke on the Today Show this morning from Brisbane and said it was the “calm before the storm”.At the moment that’s the shortest it’s been in 24 hours. It’s a big couple of days ahead for south-east Queensland. We’re more than up to the task, but everybody’s doing their bit.So everyone’s doing their bit and we thank them for it.We know that there’s going to be damaging winds, there is going to be powerful surf, coastal erosion, and it will be followed by significant rain that can last a couple of days. So we’re really urging people to be alert, to be prepared, just like the SES is. Continue reading...

Society

5 d. ago Australia news live: Tropical Cyclone Alfred updates – multiple flights cancelled and airports to close as storm approaches

Thousands without electricity in Byron Bay region and in Queensland as waves top 10m in Tweed area. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSandbag queues ‘about an hour’ in Brisbane – WellsThe federal sports minister, Anika Wells, also spoke on the Today Show this morning from Brisbane and said it was the “calm before the storm”.At the moment that’s the shortest it’s been in 24 hours. It’s a big couple of days ahead for south-east Queensland. We’re more than up to the task, but everybody’s doing their bit.So everyone’s doing their bit and we thank them for it.We know that there’s going to be damaging winds, there is going to be powerful surf, coastal erosion, and it will be followed by significant rain that can last a couple of days. So we’re really urging people to be alert, to be prepared, just like the SES is. Continue reading...

Society