Panic buying, giant waves as Cyclone Alfred barrels towards coast

Almost a metre of rain is forecast to fall over three days in parts of northern NSW as residents still devastated by the destructive 2022 floods brace for the state’s first tropical cyclone in more than three decades.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred is expected to make landfall as a category 2 storm north of Brisbane late on Thursday or early Friday and would be the first tropical cyclone to impact NSW since Nancy in 1990.

Early on Wednesday morning, Alfred was 465 kilometres east of Brisbane, had turned west and was moving west towards Queensland’s south coast at a speed of 11km/h.

The Bureau of Meteorology said Alfred was expected to make landfall somewhere between the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast late on Thursday or early on Friday.

The oncoming cyclone sparked panic buying on both sides of the border, while surfers made the most of the storm swell at popular beaches on the Gold Coast and at Byron Bay.

Byron Bay beachgoers take in the big swell caused by Cyclone Alfred.Credit: Danielle Smith

Flood watch alerts have been issued for the Northern Rivers, a region that was devastated by floods in 2022, and the Mid North Coast. Almost a metre of rainfall is possible in the worst affected areas close to the Queensland border from Wednesday afternoon to Saturday morning, BOM senior meteorologist Dean Narramore said.

Isolated downpours could bring as much as 800 millimetres of rain in far north-east NSW, while 400 to 600 millimetres is likely in areas 50 to 100 kilometres south of the Queensland border.

Widespread heavy rainfall of up to 400 millimetres is expected to fall in areas between Coffs Harbour and the Queensland border.

Friday is likely to see the heaviest of the rain before Alfred travels towards inland areas, which will receive between 25 and 100 millimetres over the weekend as the system weakens into a tropical low. Wind gusts of up to 120km/h are expected in some parts of north-east NSW.

Lismore MP Janelle Saffin said the community was “preparing for the worst” but “hoping for the best”.

She said community members were doing all they could to prepare amid a sense of anxiety in Lismore.

“My heart’s heavy,” Saffin said.

“We’re battered but not beaten. We’ll get through this.”

Empty shelves at a Coles in Brisbane’s suburbs on Monday afternoon.Credit: Jocelyn Garcia

Abnormally high tides and powerful waves are expected to cause severe beach erosion along NSW’s North Coast from late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning, according to the weather bureau.

People are urged to avoid the surf and surf-exposed areas. Rock fishers should avoid fishing from coastal rock platforms exposed to the ocean and seek a safe location sheltered from the surf.

Forecast accumulated rain over the seven days ending on Sunday, March 9.Credit: Weatherzone.com.au

The worst erosion is expected to occur between Tweed Heads and Smoky Cape, about 80 kilometres north of Port Macquarie. Record high 14-metre waves were recorded off Wide Bay in Queensland on Sunday.

The intense rain forecast from Wednesday into the weekend could lead to flash flooding, the weather bureau warned. The heaviest rainfall is expected south of where Alfred makes landfall.

The NSW SES has deployed more than 50 flood rescue and storm response staff to the Mid North Coast and Northern Rivers, as well as sending communication equipment, aviation resources and specialist vehicles.

“These volunteers are highly trained flood rescue and storm operators, and they bring with them a series of general purpose, light storm and medium storm vehicles,” assistant commissioner Nicole Hogan said.

Fire and Rescue NSW will also send three water rescue teams to Lismore, Bellingen and Coffs Harbour.

The SES urged locals to have an exit plan for themselves and their pets and prepare by cleaning up loose items around their homes and sandbagging properties if necessary. Anyone who requires assistance with sandbagging should call the SES on 132 500.

In Lismore, supermarkets were stripped bare as residents prepared for the impact. But Hogan said there was no need for panic buying.

“Supermarkets have good supply chains and transport routes are currently open,” she said.

“If your community becomes isolated and needs resupply of essential goods, NSW SES will assist with this.”

Byron Shire Mayor Sarah Ndiaye said locals were “very anxious” but were “proactively doing what they can to secure their properties”.

She said unlike the 2022 flood emergency, this time there is plenty of warning.

“We had no warning last time (and) we had 100 days straight of rain before that weather event hit. This time it is not looking as bad,” she told Nine News.

“Everyone is keeping their fingers crossed and hoping for the best.”

A sailboat that lost its mooring at Bribie Island, north of Brisbane.Credit: Dan Peled

NSW Premier Chris Minns said Northern Rivers residents were “the most resilient people in the country”, and the region had “gone through hell over the past few years”.

“It’s a shame they have to go through this again, but they’re ready for it.”

Minns told Today communities should prepare for the worst, adding the situation brought back “all the horrors of 2022”.

“We’re thinking of those communities. We will rebuild with them the day after the storm has been completed,” he said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he intended to travel to Queensland by Tuesday night or Wednesday morning.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said he wanted people “to be ready for this”.

“I want Queenslanders to know we’ve done our bit for our preparations,” Crisafulli told the ABC.

Brisbane residents have started preparing for Tropical Cyclone Alfred.Credit: Dan Peled

While Sydney is expected to avoid the impacts of Tropical Cyclone Alfred, rain is forecast for the next week.

Up to 10 millimetres is forecast for Tuesday, while up to 18 millimetres could fall on Saturday and Sunday, the weather bureau said. Hazardous surf conditions in Sydney are forecast on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.