Nym
Free Ranging
Wednesday 5th of March puffy grey clouds clearing to a blue sky. Sunny and warm. 11.1 / 18.5kph SE, Hg 52%, 23.1C / 74.3F heading for 25C / 77F. Shower or two (still waiting). Hazardous Surf Warning.
Moon is 37%
Cyclone Alfred is still tracking toward the SE coastline. I'm not exactly sure what that bright fire-looking patch is in South Australia. I know the Flinders Ranges have been on fire for a month but I thought it was out.
It's expected that Cyclone Alfred will result in waves as high as 8 metres along the northern NSW coast. (ABC News: Bruce Mackenzie)
Northern New South Wales is set to bear the brunt of torrential rain and damaging winds accompanying Tropical Cyclone Alfred with the region already experiencing wild weather.
The Bureau of Meterology (BOM) has confirmed the category two cyclone is expected to make landfall near Brisbane early on Friday morning.
Rainfall is expected to start increasing in intensity from Wednesday throughout northern NSW and south-east Queensland.
Parts of the northern NSW coast were already experiencing rain squalls and south-easterly winds on Wednesday morning, with forecasts predicting 6-metre swells in the ocean.
The position of NSW in relation to the weather system puts it in a vulnerable position.
NSW is in the forward left quadrant, which is the most dangerous side of a tropical cyclone.
Air spins clockwise around a low pressure system in the southern hemisphere, so the wind direction to the south of Alfred is moving in the same direction as the cyclone, combining their speeds to cause more damage on the poleward side.
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.
These wind gusts could uproot trees and damage rooves.
Six-hourly rainfall totals between 200 and 250 millimetres and 24-hour totals between 300 and 400mm are also possible on the southern side of the system.
This level of rainfall could lead to dangerous flash flooding, but there is also a high risk of riverine flooding in all major catchments of the NSW north coast, from the Tweed River to the Hastings River.
BOM's manager of decision support services Jane Golding said the wind is expected to increase along the Northern Rivers and on the Mid North Coast today.
She said the weather system is likely to bring "very heavy rainfall over extensive areas with the potential to cause extensive flooding" and a flood watch is in place for moderate to major flooding from the Queensland border down to, but not including, the Manning River.
"The key message is that we can expect from this system along with destructive wind and extensive flooding most likely major flooding, as well as the potential for some dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding," she said.
"So the rainfall is expected to increase today furthering tomorrow but peak along with the wind on Thursday night/Friday morning as the system approaches the coast."
NSW TAFE campuses and pre-schools in the region are also closed.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said resources were being shared across the border and a large contingent of emergency services resources are already in place across the Northern Rivers.
"We need to bunker down over the next 48 hours and get through what may be a very difficult time," he said.
People in an area vulnerable to flooding have been told to relocate well before Thursday afternoon and seven evacuation centres will begin opening across the Northern Rivers this afternoon from 4pm.
The premier said people needed to be prepared by downloading the Hazards Near Me app, listen to emergency broadcasts and not drive or walk through floodwaters.
People in the region are encouraged to buy enough basic provisions for a few days but avoid panic buying ahead of the cyclone's arrival.
He says major supermarkets have contingency plans in place should a community become isolated by flooding.
NSW State Emergency Service Commissioner Michael Wassing said most NSW residents are not familiar with cyclones.
The last cyclone to cross Queensland's south-east was Zoe in 1974, while Nancy came close to NSW in 1990.
"We are dealing with three natural disasters in one," Mr Wassing said.
Mr Wassing said a significant coastal surge is expected to push water half a metre above the usual high tide mark.
"If you live directly on the coast and you do not feel safe in that situation, now is the time to relocate," he said.
Winds in excess of 100 kilometres per hour are expected to bring down trees, damage powerlines and cut access to roads and streets.
Currently, 1,000 SES volunteers are already on the ground in the Northern Rivers.
NSW SES also said it was facilitating over 20 community meetings in impacted towns to ensure residents had up-to-date information.
Moon is 37%
Cyclone Alfred is still tracking toward the SE coastline. I'm not exactly sure what that bright fire-looking patch is in South Australia. I know the Flinders Ranges have been on fire for a month but I thought it was out.
Weather deteriorates, schools close as Tropical Cyclone Alfred slowly tracks towards northern NSW
4 hours ago
It's expected that Cyclone Alfred will result in waves as high as 8 metres along the northern NSW coast. (ABC News: Bruce Mackenzie)
Northern New South Wales is set to bear the brunt of torrential rain and damaging winds accompanying Tropical Cyclone Alfred with the region already experiencing wild weather.
The Bureau of Meterology (BOM) has confirmed the category two cyclone is expected to make landfall near Brisbane early on Friday morning.
Rainfall is expected to start increasing in intensity from Wednesday throughout northern NSW and south-east Queensland.
Parts of the northern NSW coast were already experiencing rain squalls and south-easterly winds on Wednesday morning, with forecasts predicting 6-metre swells in the ocean.
The position of NSW in relation to the weather system puts it in a vulnerable position.
NSW is in the forward left quadrant, which is the most dangerous side of a tropical cyclone.
Air spins clockwise around a low pressure system in the southern hemisphere, so the wind direction to the south of Alfred is moving in the same direction as the cyclone, combining their speeds to cause more damage on the poleward side.
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.
These wind gusts could uproot trees and damage rooves.
Six-hourly rainfall totals between 200 and 250 millimetres and 24-hour totals between 300 and 400mm are also possible on the southern side of the system.
This level of rainfall could lead to dangerous flash flooding, but there is also a high risk of riverine flooding in all major catchments of the NSW north coast, from the Tweed River to the Hastings River.
BOM's manager of decision support services Jane Golding said the wind is expected to increase along the Northern Rivers and on the Mid North Coast today.
She said the weather system is likely to bring "very heavy rainfall over extensive areas with the potential to cause extensive flooding" and a flood watch is in place for moderate to major flooding from the Queensland border down to, but not including, the Manning River.
"The key message is that we can expect from this system along with destructive wind and extensive flooding most likely major flooding, as well as the potential for some dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding," she said.
"So the rainfall is expected to increase today furthering tomorrow but peak along with the wind on Thursday night/Friday morning as the system approaches the coast."
NSW schools close, communities on disaster alert
Ahead of the worst of the weather, NSW education department has confirmed 121 schools from the Clarence Valley north to the Queensland border, and inland to the Kyogle Shire will be non-operational from today till at least Friday.NSW TAFE campuses and pre-schools in the region are also closed.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said resources were being shared across the border and a large contingent of emergency services resources are already in place across the Northern Rivers.
"We need to bunker down over the next 48 hours and get through what may be a very difficult time," he said.
People in an area vulnerable to flooding have been told to relocate well before Thursday afternoon and seven evacuation centres will begin opening across the Northern Rivers this afternoon from 4pm.
The premier said people needed to be prepared by downloading the Hazards Near Me app, listen to emergency broadcasts and not drive or walk through floodwaters.
People in the region are encouraged to buy enough basic provisions for a few days but avoid panic buying ahead of the cyclone's arrival.
He says major supermarkets have contingency plans in place should a community become isolated by flooding.
Unfamiliar territory
NSW State Emergency Service Commissioner Michael Wassing said most NSW residents are not familiar with cyclones.
The last cyclone to cross Queensland's south-east was Zoe in 1974, while Nancy came close to NSW in 1990.
"We are dealing with three natural disasters in one," Mr Wassing said.
Mr Wassing said a significant coastal surge is expected to push water half a metre above the usual high tide mark.
"If you live directly on the coast and you do not feel safe in that situation, now is the time to relocate," he said.
Winds in excess of 100 kilometres per hour are expected to bring down trees, damage powerlines and cut access to roads and streets.
Currently, 1,000 SES volunteers are already on the ground in the Northern Rivers.
NSW SES also said it was facilitating over 20 community meetings in impacted towns to ensure residents had up-to-date information.
they suggested I make my title that one.
