04/03/2025
Northern Rivers severe weather
Prepare now
Advice
The NSW SES advises people in the following area(s) to PREPARE NOW for forecast :
- Tweed Heads
- Murwillumbah
- Mullumbimby
- Byron Bay
- Kyogle
- Nimbin
- Lismore
- Lennox Head
- Ballina
- Casino
- Woodburn
- Maclean
- Yamba
- Kingscliff
- Coraki
What are we expecting?
The Bureau of Meteorology advises Tropical Cyclone Alfred is moving west towards the southeast Queensland coast. Alfred is a category 2 cyclone and is forecast to maintain this intensity as it approaches the southeast Queensland coast on Thursday. Alfred is expected to cross the coast late Thursday or early Friday morning.
Gales with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 120 kilometres per hour are expected to develop along the northeastern New South Wales coastal and island communities between on Wednesday and persist during Thursday.
DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS of up to 155 kilometres per hour may develop about the exposed coastal and island locations near and to the south of the track as Alfred's destructive core approaches and crosses the coast late Thursday or early Friday.
DANGEROUS STORM TIDE may occur along the coastal foreshore, particularly in areas near and south of the cyclone centre, if the time of coastal crossing coincides with the high tide during Thursday night or early Friday morning. Tides are likely to rise significantly above the highest high tide mark with damaging waves and dangerous inundation of coastal low-lying areas.
ABNORMALLY HIGH TIDES are likely to continue causing MINOR FLOODING of coastal low lying areas between Sandy Cape and Yamba, particularly during the time of high tide tonight through till Friday. DAMAGING SURF leading to significant beach erosion remains likely for the open beaches between Sandy Cape and Yamba, and further south over New South Wales coast.
HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is forecast to develop about parts of the Mid North Coast, Northern Rivers and Northern Tablelands during Thursday. Six-hourly rainfall totals between 60 and 110 mm and 24-hour totals between 100 and 200 mm are likely. Locally INTENSE RAINFALL which may lead to DANGEROUS AND LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODING may develop during Thursday evening and continue into Friday. Six-hour rainfall totals between 200 and 250 mm and 24-hour totals between 300 and 400 mm are possible, particularly around the eastern facing slopes in the Northern Rivers and Northern Tablelands. These figures are dependent on the movement and position of the system.
This event may change quickly. NSW SES will monitor the situation and update warnings if the situation changes.
View the full warning: https://hazardwatch.gov.au/a/oBuhvT
Download the Hazards Near Me App and set up ‘Watch Zones’ to receive warnings in real time. https://www.nsw.gov.au/emergency/hazards-near-me-app
For emergency assistance during a flood, storm or tsunami, call the NSW SES on 132 500. In a life-threatening emergency, call Triple Zero (000).
Post current at 7:01pm on Tuesday 4th March 2025.