Emergency flood alerts have been issued and about 238,000 homes and businesses are without power in Queensland and New South Wales in the wake of Ex-Cyclone Alfred. It comes after severe winds lashed the state's south east and heavy rains smashed coastal communities.

Thunderstorm warnings and flood emergencies have been issued in parts of south-east Queensland as heavy rain continues to drench the state amid remnants of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. The dangerous weather conditions are hampering efforts to restore power to more than 200,

South East Queensland and northern NSW continue to experience thunderstorms, intense rainfall and flooding in the wake of Alfred. Follow our ongoing coverage.

Hundreds of schools will be closed across Queensland and NSW tomorrow as ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred continues to smash the east coast. In Queensland, which 7NEWS meteorologist Tony Auden earlier warned was bracing for “phenomenal” rain totals, hundreds of schools are expected to be closed across the state.

Tropical cyclone Alfred is a reminder that powerful storms have the power to show up in some surprising places.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred is expected to cross the southeast Queensland coast late this Thursday as a Category 2 storm. The last tropical cyclone to make landfall in the region was ex-Tropical Cyclone Zoe in 1974, half a century ago.