Residents of northern New South Wales and south-east Queensland are facing severe weather conditions as Cyclone Alfred moves closer to the coast. Emergency orders have been issued, urging people in flood-prone areas to evacuate or seek higher ground as conditions worsen.
Residents Urged to Evacuate amid Rising Floodwaters
Authorities have warned that areas such as Upper Back Creek, Upper Goolmangar Creek, Upper Jiggi Creek, and Upper Terania Creek are becoming increasingly dangerous due to flooding.
The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) has stated that it may now be too unsafe for rescue teams to reach affected residents, urging those in danger to move to the upper floors of buildings but not into roof cavities, where they risk becoming trapped.
In Lismore and the Northern Rivers region, thousands of people were ordered to evacuate by 9pm Thursday, with additional warnings issued Friday morning. Officials predict that floodwaters could cut off escape routes, making further evacuations impossible.
Power Outages Impact Tens of Thousands
More than 40,000 residents in south-east Queensland and 35,000 in northern NSW remain without power. Additional blackouts are expected as strong winds and heavy rainfall continue.
Wind gusts of 120km/h have been reported along the coast from Moreton Island to Byron Bay, with severe weather conditions expected to extend as far south as Grafton.
Cyclone Alfred’s Path and Expected Impact
As of 1pm AEDT (12pm AEST) Friday, Cyclone Alfred remains a category 2 storm, positioned 165 kilometers east of Brisbane and 140 kilometers east-northeast of the Gold Coast. Moving slowly at 7km/h, the cyclone’s unpredictable trajectory has challenged meteorologists’ forecasts.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) now predicts that Alfred will make landfall early Saturday, crossing over the Moreton Bay Islands before hitting the mainland, likely between Noosa and Beenleigh.
Major Flood Warnings Across the Region
Heavy rainfall—up to 450mm daily—is expected in areas near and south of the cyclone’s core. The BoM has issued major flood warnings for several rivers, including:
- Logan and Albert Rivers (south of Brisbane)
- Tweed River (on the NSW border)
- Wilsons, Brunswick, and Nambucca Rivers (further south)
More than 20 evacuation orders were issued Thursday afternoon, affecting residents in Lismore, Port Macquarie, Kyogle, Tumbulgum, Coraki, and other towns.
The Hastings River region in Port Macquarie also faced evacuations, with orders covering North Shore, Settlement Point, and Hastings River Drive.
Transport Disruptions and School Closures
The southern Gold Coast and areas inland of Tweed Heads have been severely impacted.
More than 1,000 schools were closed on Thursday, and public transport services across south-east Queensland were suspended.
By 3:35pm Thursday, the last passenger flight into Brisbane had landed, with no confirmed timeline for flight resumptions.
Authorities Urge Caution and Preparedness
NSW Premier Chris Minns emphasized the risk of residents becoming trapped, stating that those who remain in flood zones may be without power, water, and essential services for an extended period.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli reassured the public, highlighting that preparedness efforts, including pre-positioning generators and emergency staff, had been extensive. “I know we spent a lot of time preparing… and I think Queenslanders have responded really, really well,” he said.
