Evacuation warnings as delayed Tropical Cyclone Alfred starts to lash coast

Extensive flood evacuation warnings are in place in northern NSW as Tropical Cyclone Alfred starts to affect the coastline in the state’s north, with the category 2 storm’s now delayed landfall prolonging extreme weather conditions.

Emergency services are urging residents in the storm’s path to prepare to evacuate as the western edge of Alfred, which was sitting about 325 kilometres east of Brisbane and 300 kilometres east of the Gold Coast early on Thursday morning, starts to lash the coastline from Coolangatta in Queensland, to Ballina in the Northern Rivers.

The Bureau of Meteorology’s latest modelling shows Alfred is expected to cross Moreton Island by about 8pm on Friday (NSW time, AEDT), and is not expected to reach the western side of Brisbane until 12 hours later.

The weather bureau said Alfred was expected to remain a category 2 storm as it heads towards land, with sustained winds of up to 95km/h and wind gusts of up to 130km/h near the cyclone’s centre.

Destructive winds of up to 155km/h and a dangerous storm tide could hit as far south as Cape Byron, the weather bureau said.

Weather conditions are expected to deteriorate rapidly on Thursday afternoon and evening as winds and rainfall increase. Parts of the state’s north-east are forecast to be drenched with up to 800mm of rain from Wednesday to Saturday, while other areas could receive sustained rainfall of up to 600mm.

Alfred was initially forecast to cross the coast early on Friday morning, sparking concerns it would coincide with high tide at 1am (AEDT), causing dangerous storm surges, and creating a weather event not seen in NSW since Tropical Cyclone Nancy hit the state in 1990.

Enhanced infrared satellite image showing clouds around Tropical Cyclone Alfred on Wednesday.Credit: Weatherzone.com.au

“We are dealing with three natural disaster events in one,” NSW SES Commissioner Mike Wassing said on Wednesday.

“I want people to act now, relocate now, before those circumstances are occurring. This is not just a rain event, this is a wind event, multiple wind events and then a potential flash flood and flooding event so now is the time to act. By Thursday afternoon and into Thursday evening, it is too late.”

The SES late on Wednesday issued a flood evacuation warning to northern NSW residents in Ballina, Tweed Heads, South Golden Beach, Pottsville and Hastings Point.

“You should monitor the situation and prepare to evacuate so that you can safely evacuate when instructed to do so by NSW SES,” the SES said in a statement. Several evacuation centres have been set up in the north-east.

The NSW government on Wednesday closed 121 schools in northern NSW for the rest of the week, an Education Department spokesperson said.

In Lismore, which was devastated by record flooding in 2022, confirmed closures for schools, medical centres, courthouses, law firms, public transport services, city council on Thursday will take place. Hospitals, ambulance, police and fire stations are still open.

Ballina, Coffs Harbour and Gold Coast airports have been closed, while some flights in and out of Brisbane are still operating.

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