Tropical Cyclone Alfred's approach was coloured by slow, suspenseful movement. Here's how the weather event and emergency response unfolded.

Hundreds of thousands of people are under a blackout in Queensland and flood warnings remain in place across New South Wales after ex-Cyclone Alfred left a trail of destruction along Australia’s east coast.

Ex-tropical cyclone Alfred lingered off the south-east Australian coast on Saturday and forecasters said Brisbane is likely to miss the worst of the storm, a relief for millions of residents in the region who have been staying indoors.