Cyclone Debbie

Cyclone Debbie: Australia surveys devastation

Debbie has now blown out over the Tasman Sea after bringing a deluge of rain down the eastern coast from its impact point in Queensland.

Flood alerts remain, crops have been submerged and the bill may run into hundreds of millions of dollars.

A third body was found in Queensland on Saturday afternoon.

Seventy-seven-year-old Nelson Raebel died in the floodwaters in Logan, south of Brisbane.

Several people remain missing.

One dead in NSW, south-east Qld faces massive clean-up as flooding wreaks havoc on east coast

A woman was reported missing at Burringbar, south of Murwillumbah in NSW, overnight on Thursday and police said a body was found on a flood-affected property about 8:00am on Friday.

Between 500 and 740 millimetres of rain was recorded in NSW's Tweed River valley in the 24 hours to 2:00am on Friday, after which it began to ease.

The main areas affected are around Murwillumbah, where residents were forced to seek refuge in ceiling cavities and on the roofs of their homes, and in Lismore, where the Wilsons River has reached 11.6 metres.

Cyclone Debbie: Evacuations in Gold Coast, Logan, Beenleigh amid record floods

Isolated falls of 600mm were gauged in 24 hours and winds picked up to a maximum 120kph — the strength of a category one cyclone — as the worst of the low-pressure system passed over the south-east on Thursday evening.

It moved off the coast early Friday morning, but has left a trail of damage and is pushing half a dozen rivers to a major flood level.

The Logan and Albert river catchments are overflowing after isolated falls in the Scenic Rim of 500mm overnight.

Cyclone Debbie: Queensland braced for dangerous floods

Cyclone Debbie has caused major damage, torrential rain and power cuts to tens of thousands of homes.

Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull has activated a disaster response plan.

With up to 250mm of rain forecast on Wednesday, authorities have pleaded with people to stay off roads to avoid being stranded in floodwaters.

"We've already had two instances of people who were caught in a vehicle," said Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Katarina Carroll, adding flood rescues were now her "biggest concern".

Cyclone Debbie: Australia activates disaster response plan

Cyclone Debbie caused major damage, torrential rain and power cuts to tens of thousands of homes.

Defence force helicopters and naval vessels carrying aid are to be despatched to Queensland.

Mr Turnbull said one death had been confirmed but added that emergency crews had yet to assess the damage.

Cyclone Debbie made landfall between Bowen and Airlie Beach as a category four storm, whipping gusts of up to 263km/h (163mph).

It is moving inland as a category two storm but could cause more damage.

Cyclone Debbie: 'Monster' storm batters Australia

Cyclone Debbie made landfall between Bowen and Airlie Beach in Queensland as a category four storm, whipping gusts of up to 263km/h (163 mph).

It is moving inland as a category two but could cause damage for hours yet. One serious injury has been reported.

PM Malcolm Turnbull told parliament he had activated a disaster response plan.

"Conditions have deteriorated rapidly," he said. "Take care and stay safe. Be prepared to shelter in place until Wednesday."

He said defence force helicopters and naval vessels would be sent to Queensland with aid.

Cyclone Debbie makes landfall on Queensland coast

The storm is lashing the Queensland coast with torrential rain, bringing about a significant flooding risk, meteorologists said.

The Category 4 cyclone is the equivalent of a Category 3 hurricane and is very slow-moving.

"With the very, very strong winds if they just sit there and twirl, it's like a battering ram," Queensland police commissioner Ian Stewart told CNN affiliate 7 News.

It's already left a path of destruction through outlying islands.

Cyclone Debbie: 'Monster' storm reaches Australian islands

Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated in preparation for Cyclone Debbie, a Category four storm.

Its destructive eye has already hit the Whitsunday islands and is expected to reach the mainland by 12:00 local time (02:00 GMT) on Tuesday.

Authorities said it would be the area's worst storm since Cyclone Yasi in 2011.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull earlier urged residents to "leave home immediately", adding that people should seek shelter "on higher ground".

Cyclone brings wind 'like a freight train' towards Queensland coast

Overnight, Australia's Bureau of Meteorology predicted Cyclone Debbie would make landfall as a category 4 tropical cyclone - just one stage below the most dangerous wind speed level.

The state government last night warned 25,000 people living in parts of Mackay to head to higher ground, as dangerous tidal surges of up to 1.7m were forecast.

Cyclone Debbie forces backpackers in Australia to evacuate

The storm, which forecasters expect to cause serious damage to parts of the east coast of Australia, is set to make landfall on Tuesday morning local time.

The Whitsunday Islands, Townsville and Ayr are all expected to be affected by destructive weather, which includes extremely strong wind, torrential rain and flooding.

Police officers and emergency service volunteers have been going to homes, hostels and hotels, telling people in affected areas to evacuate.