Tropical Cyclone Alfred has spent the night creeping towards Queensland’s coast and northern NSW. Despite authorities downgrading the cyclone to a tropical low early Saturday morning, locals have been warned not to be complacent with serious flooding risk remaining despite wind speeds slowing down.

Rapid creek rises and dangerous flash-flooding is impacting parts of South East Queensland and Northern New South Wales.

South East Queensland and northern NSW are in it for the long haul with ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, forecasters have warned, with severe weather and flood warnings still in place for large parts of the east coast.

Authorities turn their focus to the threat of flooding and flash floods as communities in south-east Queensland and northern NSW are warned the risks "can't be trivialised".

Hundreds of thousands of residents in northern NSW are anxiously waiting for the full impact of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, as rescue teams continue their search for a man washed away in floodwaters.