New South Wales residents in the Northern Rivers region have been told to stay indoors as more than 200 schools are shuttered ahead of Tropical Cyclone Alfred’s imminent arrival.
Tropical Cyclone Alfred looks set to make landfall between Friday afternoon and early Saturday, bringing sustained winds of 95km/h and isolated rainfall upwards of 700mm.
The Category 2 system is expected to maintain its intensity, with the centre of Alfred to cross the coast on Friday between Maroochydore and Coolangatta.
Residents in Brisbane and the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Tweed Heads and northern NSW are warned they will experience potentially destructive wind gusts of up to 155km/h.
As Queensland and Northern NSW residents prepare for the looming threat of Tropical Cyclone Alfred over the coming days, Sky News Weather brings you a special report on what to expect, which locations will be hit hardest and a detailed explainer on how cyclones work. Watch ‘Prepare for Impact: Tropical Cyclone Alfred’ now.
Watch and Act for Northern NSW
The State Emergency Service have issued a Watch and Act order for residents in the Northern Rivers, urging people to stay indoors from Tropical Cyclone Alfred, unless residents have been directed to evacuate due to expected flooding.
Residents should prepare for damaging wind gusts, heavy rainfall, and severe coastal hazards, including abnormally high tides and hazardous surf.
“Destructive wind gusts may extend further inland close to the cyclone centre during Friday,” the SES warned.
“A dangerous storm tide is likely along the coastal foreshore for exposed areas between Cape Moreton and Ballina, including the Gold Coast and Byron Bay beaches, ahead of the coastal crossing time on the high tides.
“Abnormally high tides are likely to continue causing minor flooding of coastal low lying areas between Double Island Point and Grafton, particularly during the time of high tides early Friday morning (tonight) and early Saturday morning (Friday night).
“Damaging surf leading to significant beach erosion remains likely for the open beaches between Double Island Point and Grafton, and further south over the New South Wales coast.”
Authorities urge people to continue to monitor warnings and avoid unnecessary travel.
The Northern Rivers extends three nautical miles east of the coastline incorporating the Solitary Islands and Cape Byron marine parks, stretching from around Port Macquarie to Tweed Heads, covering 50,000km2.
Watch and Act order
Tweed Heads, Murwillumbah, Mullumbimby, Byron Bay, Kyogle, Nimbin, Lismore, Lennox Head, Ballina, Casino, Woodburn, Maclean, Yamba, Kingscliff, Coraki, Wardell, Broadwater, and Evans Head
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said there are about 20,000 houses that the SES has designated in preparation to evacuate.
There are 2000 SES volunteers, 40 flood and rescue crews, police, and Fire and Rescue ready to help in danger zones for the worst case scenario.
“Everybody up here is prepared for the worst-case scenario … we hope that doesn’t eventuate,” Mr Minns said.
More than 200 schools closed
A heightened risk of flooding has forced the closure of more than 230 public schools, 29 Catholic schools, five independent schools and 16 TAFE campuses.
Two additional TAFE campuses have been used as evacuation centres.
“The Department urges services to assess the risk of severe weather in their community and if necessary, activate their emergency plans and procedures. We encourage services to follow the advice of local authorities and the SES,” NSW Government said in a statement.
Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said it’s top priority to keep students and families safe.
“As our communities prioritise their safety and prepare for the arrival of Cyclone Alfred, we are ensuring teachers, students and school staff are not unnecessary placed in harm’s way by attending school,” she said.
“Keeping our students and families safe must always be our top priority.”
NSW Evacuation Centres Open
Acting Chief Superintendent Stuart Fisher said evacuation centres are used as a last resort, with a preference for people to stay with family and friends.
“If they choose to go to an evacuation centre, we suggest they take their medicines, any valuables they might want to have, because they may be there for a little time when they do go to an evacuation centre,” he said.
“That is the last resort. We would encourage, if they do decide to leave their area, to go and stay with friends and family and use the evacuation centres as a last resort.”
Scott Tanner, the District Commander for the Richmond Police District reassured the Northern Rivers community that there is a lot of support in regards to evacuation centres.
“As we’ve said before, evacuation centres are probably the last place that you want to go. If you do have the ability to get to family or friends or alternate accommodation, we ask that you do that now. Use today as the day that you prepare for the next three days. The weather is going to deteriorate, as we’ve heard, and it’s going to be unsafe to be on the roads,” he said.
Official evacuation centres opened across northern NSW:
LISMORE
Southern Cross University: Rifle Range Road, East Lismore (the same location as the 2022 flood in the Health Precinct).
BALLINA
Southern Cross Public School: Chickiba Dr, East Ballina.
ALSTONVILLE
Alstonville High School: Cawley Close, Alstonville.
KYOGLE
Kyogle Memorial Hall: Stratheden Street, Kyogle.
EVANS HEAD
Evans Head RSL: 11-13 McDonald Place, Evans Head.
TYALGUM
Tyalgum Community Hall: Coolman Street, Tyalgum.
CORAKI
Coraki Public School: 50 Adams Street, Coraki.
BURRINGBAR
Burringbar Sports Club: Fourth Avenue, Burringbar.
UKI
Uki Hall: 1642 Kyogle Road, Uki.
BANORA POINT
Banora Point Salvation Army: The Centre Cnr Leisure and Woodlands Drive, Banora Point.
KINGSCLIFF
Kingscliff TAFE: 806 Cudgen Road, Kingscliff.
MURWILLUMBAH
Murwillumbah TAFE: 146 Murwillumbah Street, Murwillumbah.
MULLUMBIMBY
Mullumbimby RSL: 58 Dalley Street, Mullumbimby.
OCEAN SHORES
Ocean Shores County Club: 113A Orana Road, Ocean Shores.
TERRANORA
Terranora Public School: 650 Terranora Road, Terranora.
