Australia braced for a rare east coast tropical cyclone that is swirling towards Brisbane, its third-most populous city, with authorities urging residents in flood-prone suburbs to evacuate soon.

One person has died and several were injured as flooding rains lash the Australian east coast even though it avoided its first tropical cyclone in 51 years

Eastern Australia is grappling with severe flooding as the remnants of Cyclone Alfred bring torrential rains, causing power blackouts for over 200,000 properties and prompting urgent rescue operations.

The slow-moving tropical storm, named Alfred, is on track to bring dangerous winds and flooding along the coast of Queensland and New South Wales, including Brisbane.

The Australian prime minister has warned there is "worse to come" after a low tropical weather system brought heavy rain, strong winds and flooding to the country's east coast. Anthony Albanese said the impacts of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred are already being felt across parts of Queensland and New South Wales,