Susanna Freymark
BOM is watching how Tropical Cyclone Alfred is tracking – like many of us here at IndyNR.com we’ve been watching it intensely too.
BOM says the cyclone which is at a category 2 (as of Monday morning, March 3) with winds in its centre up to 85kmh and wind gusts up to 120kmh is headed our way.
Alfred has been slowly moving southward and BOM has predicted it will turn westward on Tuesday, March 4.
Alfred is expected to bring intense local rainfall. The heaviest rainfall will be south of the cyclone causing major flooding from the Queensland border to Port Macquarie, with the locations and severity of flooding dependent on the track of the cyclone.
Flooding may develop from late Wednesday and continue until at least the weekend.
Coastal areas are already relatively wet. Abnormal high tides are expected to increase the flood risk in low-lying areas along the coast.
Moderate to major flooding is expected from late Wednesday into Thursday in many rivers with Wilsons, Richmond and Clarence rivers impacting our local region.
A Flood Watch has been issued for most of the Northern Rivers.
The Bureau issues a Flood Watch to provide early advice of a developing situation that may lead to flooding. A Flood Watch is not a warning of imminent flooding.
At this stage, it is about being prepared. We know what we need to do.
BOM said it was unusual for tropical cyclones to track this far south, but it’s not unheard of.
Some historical examples include:
• In February 2019, Tropical Cyclone Oma drifted off the coast of Brisbane. Parts of southeast Queensland were placed under a Tropical Cyclone Watch. The system remained offshore but generated significant waves exceeding 5m, including for parts of northern NSW.
• In 1990, Tropical Cyclone Nancy sat just off the coast of Brisbane as a category 1 system. It brought significant rainfall to the Brisbane area before tracking south, passing close to Cape Byron before eventually weakening to a tropical low and moving into the Tasman Sea.
• In 1981, Tropical Cyclone Cliff crossed the coast north of Brisbane. The system brought coastal inundation and beach erosion from Bundaberg down to Coolangatta.
• In 1974, Tropical Cyclone Zoe moved close to Brisbane and then crossed the coast at Coolangatta. Major flooding occurred in north-east NSW, including Murwillumbah and Lismore.
For more information go to the Flood Watch Service.
If you require emergency help, call the NSW SES on 132 500 and if life-threatening, call triple zero.
Do what you need to do to stay safe.
