HIGH gusting winds and heavy rainfall along much of the eastern escarpment summed up the impact of Tropical Cyclone Alfred around the Scenic Rim by mid-morning Friday.

A heavy gust during the gale force winds which made it as far inland as upper Carneys Creek in the early hours of this morning caused extensive damage to Bruce Warren's five bay steel framed shed.

“I’m not sure of the time but it was still dark when we heard a really big gust go through,” said Mr Warren.

“When I went into the kitchen after daylight I saw that the roller doors had been blown in and sheets of iron from the roof were down the paddock.”

Their rainfall total was 50mm for Thursday.

The gale force winds felled a 200-year-old eucalypt and other big trees in the open areas along the flat behind the Fearby home at Burnett’s Creek.

“There’s trees down everywhere,” Karen Fearby said, “our mobile service has already gone and all the gullies are running.”

She said the wind picked up around 1.30am on Friday.

“I’d describe them as gale force with some big gusts coming through.”

Over 100mm was recorded in the Fearby’s rain gauge by Friday morning.

“But the rain at the moment [during the mid-morning interview] is being blown horizontal at the house, so I’m not sure how much is getting into the gauge.”

Some homes in Maroon had lost power.

Matt and Michelle from Beechmont said their area had been without power since midnight Thursday.

“There’s lots of leaf litter on the roads but we haven’t heard of any trees down up here,” Michelle reported.

The Bureau of Meteorology’s rainfall station had recorded 40mm in the 24 hours to 9.00am on Friday.

Speaking from the Tamborine Mountain place of refuge (Vonda Youngman Centre) mid morning Friday, Cr Amanda Hay said no one had availed themselves of the service since the centre had opened at 9.00am.

“The volunteers are ready if anyone arrives.”

Cr Hay said the high winds had hit the mountain at about 2.30am.

“There are no reports of damage as yet but there are 414 homes without power.”

The Bureau’s rain station on the mountain recorded a fall of 15mm for the 24 hours up to 9.00am.

POLICE WARNING

OIC Boonah, Sgt Boyce, asked motorists to stay at home unless there was an emergency.

“We don’t want people putting themselves at risk and putting the lives of emergency services personnel at risk.

“We don’t know what it is going to be like on the other side of the event so we should be conserving fuel.”

If you need to be out on the road, then drive to the conditions.

“If it is flooded, forget it.”