Cyclone Seth to bring high tides and downpour over Byron, Ballina, Coffs Harbour

Beaches across Northern NSW are closed as dangerous surf fired up by Cyclone Seth batters the coastline with residents being told to prepared for the worst. See the photos and videos here:

The North Coast is on high alert and emergency services on standby with Ex-Tropical Cyclone Seth building and set to hit our shores.

The cyclone is forecast to move south over the coming days, bringing with it a barrage of rain, coastal erosion and potentially damaging winds.

All beaches on the Far North Coast are closed on Monday and a Hazardous Surf Warning has been issued.

A warning for damaging wind gusts of around 100 km/h and separate severe warning for damaging surf has also been issued for Tweed Heads, Byron Bay, Ballina, Alstonville, Brunswick Heads and Evans Head.

The wild surf gathered a bunch of onlookers hoping to take pictures. Picture: Tessa Flemming

Wild seas would pretty much be a certainty over the next week, said Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist David Wilke.

“There will be fairly significant waves over the beaches on the North Coast,” he said.

“There is also potential for damaging surf, in excess of five metres on (Monday).”

Areas like Ballina, Byron Bay, Tweed Heads, Coffs Harbour and Yamba could also see their highest tide of the years by at least 0.1 metres during the morning’s high tide on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday mornings.

“That warning really is just indicating the potential for getting the high tides above highest astronomical tides,” Mr Wilke said.

“With a new moon (on Monday) that brings a risk of seeing water levels reaching higher than you would usually see.”

NSW SES Superintendent Mark Elm said that volunteers from across the northern coastal areas are keeping a close eye on the situation.

“Although our volunteers are ready to help if necessary, we are asking that people do some simple things so that your property can be as safe as possible,” Superintendent Elm said.

“Be sure that you keep your house free from overhanging branches that can come down in high winds and damage your roof.

“Put away furniture and play equipment that can be picked up by winds and blown into houses and overhead powerlines.

“Make sure that you have a battery powered radio on hand so that if you lose power you can stay up to date with the situation by listening to your emergency broadcaster.

“These small things might mean the difference between your home being safe and undamaged or unnecessarily affected by the impact of severe weather.”

Far North Coast Duty Officer Jimmy Keough said people should take care to look for run out tides around creeks and rivers.

“For any surfers it’s going to be dangerous conditions so it’s not for board riders who aren’t confident in their abilities,” he said.

“We do also have large amounts of erosion up and down the coast, Byron has already seen it, so it’s worth watching out for that.

“The big swell also hampers our efforts to respond to people who are in distress.

“With the large amounts of traffic and increased numbers on the beach, we’ve already seen delays to this.”

Mr Wilke the wet conditions could bring above 100mls throughout the course of the week.

“There’s going to be really persistent showers for a few days now,” he said.

“There will be showery weather until pretty much Saturday.”

Winds could also reach up to 90 km/h while temperatures around the high 20s meant fairly muggy conditions, said Mr Wilke.

Further inland Lismore could possibly cop more thunderstorms than the coast.

“During the course of this week, most places will see something,” Mr Wilke said.

The State Emergency Service advises that people should:

* Don’t drive, ride or walk through flood water.

* Stay vigilant and monitor conditions. Note that the landscape may have changed following bushfires.

* For emergency help in floods and storms, ring your local SES Unit on 132 500.