Towns stretching from the New South Wales-Queensland border down to Port Macquarie have been told to either shelter in place as it is too late to leave or evacuate immediately due to the threat of major flooding in catchments along the east coast.
Ex Tropical Cyclone Alfred, which was downgraded by the Bureau of Meteorology on Saturday at 6am (AEST), hit the Moreton Bay Islands overnight and is making its way toward Brisbane on Saturday morning.
The slow-moving storm is set to cross the coast between Maroochydore and Bribie Island, bringing with it damaging winds and likely extended periods of rainfall.
The rain has also smashed large parts of northern NSW.
The NSW State Emergency Service issued a series of alerts on Saturday morning for towns in low-lying areas that could become inundated by rivers later in the day.
Woodburn and Cabbage Tree Island were told to evacuate before midday and to first try and stay with family and friends before heading to one of 20 evacuation centres.
“You must evacuate before this time because evacuation routes may be cut,” the warning on the SES website read, adding those who choose to stay behind could be trapped without power and water and that it could be too dangerous to rescue locals.
While parts of Mullumbimby are advised to leave before 8am.
Large parts of Kyogle and its surrounds are under a serious threat on Saturday, with residents in low-lying areas told to “shelter now” as it is too late to leave.
Residents are advised to stay inside a sturdy and raised structure.
The SES also warned those from Tweed Heads down south to Byron Bay to also stay inside due to the threat of Alfred’s damaging winds and and intense rainfall.
Meanwhile, locals in south Lismore and Upper Leycester Creek are being advised to move to higher ground and find a multi-storey building to shelter in.
According to Sky News meteorologist Rob Sharpe, the worst of the rain is still to come for Brisbane right down to Coffs Harbour in NSW on Saturday.
“We’ll be seeing some really intense rainfall rates of up to 250mm in six hours… that I think is something to come today and why we’re concerned about the system,” he said.
Sharpe also stressed at this stage, only the Wilsons River in Lismore NSW was likely to reach a major level later on Saturday, and there is a chance it could exceed the levee.
Asked by Sky News host Peter Stefanovic whether Alfred could “run out of puff” before reaching the coast, Sharpe said there is a “chance” but landfall did not make a difference to the rainfall impacts, which is the biggest concern in coming hours and days.
Lismore has already seen more than 300 millimetres since Wednesday 9amm while Grafton, also in the Northern Rivers was hit with 235.2mm in less than 24 hours.
Residents in flood zones are advised to monitor the NSW State Emergency Service website and the Bureau of Meteorology for regular updates.
