Australia's east coast has been pounded by rain, wind and surf for a week, with Brisbane recording its highest daily rainfall in half a century.

But while authorities have been warning residents to stay indoors as Cyclone Alfred approaches, die-hard surfers have been throwing caution to the increasing wind. "This is what we look forward to," said Jeff Weatherall as he waited for a jet ski to pick him up from Kirra beach and carry him into the big waves.

The storm reached the Queensland coast on Saturday as a "tropical low" after 16 days as a cyclone, prompting preparations by millions of residents.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred lashed the east coast but thousands remain without power.More than 30,000 properties remain without power across south-east Queensland, with about half of the outages on the Gold Coast.

Rainfall is easing, rivers are receding and the threat of heavy rainfall is disappearing,' says Queensland premier

Significant damage and power outages are possible in the densely populated region of Queensland, where tropical cyclones impacts are not uncommon but direct landfalls are.

The worst of the weather may have passed, but Queenslanders are still grappling with the damage ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred wrought on the south-east. Those in the floodwaters path are cleaning up and salvaging what they can.

Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred made landfall north of Brisbane on Saturday night, March 7, bringing heavy rain, strong winds, and causing flash flooding across Queensland. One man died in the floodwaters,

Cyclone Alfred struck the east coast of Australia late Friday, unleashing strong winds, rough surf and dangerous rip currents along popular beaches over the weekend. An estimated 10 to 15 inches fell around Brisbane and on Moreton Island during the storm.