New emergency orders, power outages hit hundreds of thousands as Cyclone Alfred approaches

More communities in northern NSW have been advised to evacuate this morning with Cyclone Alfred set to bring widespread flooding as it makes landfall within hours.

Residents in East Bellingen, Woodburn and Surrounding areas, and Cabbage Tree Island have been advised to evacuate before mid-day.

Thousands of people in Lismore and across other flood-prone parts of the NSW Northern Rivers region have been urged to evacuate due to forecasts that flooding would cut off escape routes.

CHECK THE LATEST WARNINGS AND EVACUATION ORDERS FROM THE SES

People in Wiangaree and surrounds, and near Kyogle west of Byron Bay were warned to evacuate last night. An evacuation centre is open at Wiangaree Public School.

More than 200,000 homes remain without power across south-east Queensland and northern NSW, and more outages are anticipated as conditions worsen.

Communities on the Redland City islands were advised to take shelter from 9pm last night.

Damaging 120km/h wind gusts developed between Moreton Island and Byron Bay on Thursday night and are expected to extend along the coast from Double Island Point as far south as Grafton today.

Intense rainfall which may lead to life-threatening flash flooding is also forecast to develop this afternoon and will continue even as Alfred weakens below tropical cyclone strength today.

LIVE UPDATES: Ex-cyclone Alfred now a tropical low

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At 6am (AEDT/5am AEST) on Saturday, Alfred was a category 1 storm, 65 kilometres east of Brisbane, crawling towards land at 10km/h.

Its slow pace, coupled with those unexpected loops in its path on Thursday and Wednesday nights, blew out forecasters' predictions about landfall for the southernmost cyclone to hit Australia in 50 years.

The Cyclone is most likely to make landfall between Noosa and Beenleigh later.

READ MORE: Which areas are at most risk of flooding when Cyclone Alfred makes landfall

As Alfred makes landfall, it will continue to weaken. Daily rainfall of 350 to 450 millimetres is predicted near and south of the core.

Major flood warnings were issued for the Logan and Albert rivers, south of Brisbane, the Tweed River on the border with NSW and the Wilsons, Brunswick and Nambucca rivers further south.

READ MORE: How to prepare for Tropical Cyclone Alfred and what to expect

NSW Premier Chris Minns yesterday said there may not be enough boats for every house in the flood evacuation zone if they remain.

"Those communities, if they remain in the area, they become trapped, they may be without power, water and other essential services for an extended period of time," he said.

"We're forecasting very heavy rain and, in the event of that, evacuation routes may be closed."

READ MORE: Supermarket giants reveal cyclone store closures

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said the impact would be felt by everyone in the south-east in some way.

"Everyone will have some level of impact but I really believe that people have overwhelmingly done the little things right," he said.

"I know we spent a lot of time preparing. We've prepositioned everything from generators to staff and I think Queenslanders have responded really, really well.

"I've got every faith we'll get through this if we just stay connected, keep doing the right things and we'll come through the other end."

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