Northern New South Wales is bracing for Tropical Cyclone Alfred, which is set to make landfall early Friday morning, March 7, 2025. Residents are being warned of potential torrential rain, damaging winds, and life-threatening flooding as local governments and emergency services mobilize to prepare for the severe weather.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has classified Alfred as a category two cyclone, predicting it to reach the coast near Brisbane around 2 am Friday. Rainfall is expected to begin increasing on Wednesday, March 5, and could bring totals of between 400 and 800 millimetres across affected regions over the following days.
More than 120 schools throughout the Northern Rivers region have been closed to minimize safety risks for students and staff. The NSW Education Department confirmed this measure will remain effective through at least Friday. Alongside schools, TAFE campuses and pre-schools are also closing their doors as communities prepare for the cyclone's impact.
“We need to bunker down over the next 48 hours and get through what may be a very difficult time,” said NSW Premier Chris Minns, urging residents to act quickly. He emphasized shared resources across the border, as emergency services ramp up their readiness. There are 1,000 SES volunteers currently deployed on the ground, assisting with preparations and safety protocols.
Jane Golding, BOM’s manager for decision support services, stated the cyclone presents “very heavy rainfall over extensive areas with the potential to cause extensive flooding.” Flood watch alerts span from the Queensland border down to parts of the Manning River, highlighting the risks of both flash flooding and major riverine flooding across the region.
Wind gusts are forecasted to reach up to 155 kilometres per hour, which could cause significant damage to homes and infrastructure. Communities near coastal areas are warned of dangerous conditions, with offshore waves reaching heights of ten metres. Residents are preparing bagging sand and collecting supplies; major supermarkets report shelves being cleared by anxious shoppers.
“If you live directly on the coast and you do not feel safe ... now is the time to relocate,” SES Commissioner Michael Wassing emphasized. Echoing these warnings, Wassing noted we are witnessing “three natural disaster events” converging at once, with rain, wind, and coastal surges all working together to intensify chaos.
Communities are encouraged to stay informed using the Hazards Near Me app and to heed the advice of emergency services as Cyclone Alfred approaches. Twelve evacuation centres set to open across the Northern Rivers are prepared to take individuals and families who need refuge from the impending storm.
The cyclone arrives almost three years after devastating floods struck Lismore and surrounding areas, creating unease among local officials about the potential for similar destruction. “That would break many, many people,” Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg said, recalling the emotional aftermath of those earlier events. He added, “There’s a lot of very fragile people” still recovering from the impacts of those floods.
“This is a very dangerous weather situation,” Golding cautioned, advising residents to keep up to date and take safety precautions seriously as the storm nears. With rain forecasts increasing and wind speeds expected to rise, communities must brace for what may be one of the area’s most challenging weather events since 1990, when Cyclone Nancy impacted the region.
Recovery planning has already begun across the Northern Rivers, with the NSW Reconstruction Authority indicating they aim to expedite support for affected areas following the cyclone's passage. Mal Lanyon, CEO of the authority, stated, “We have listened to the messages, and we have learned from 2022...speed to recovery is important.”
With emergency warnings continuing to escalate and resources mobilizing for preemptive action, residents along the north-eastern coast are on high alert. The climate's instability presents challenges, yet communities remain determined to weather not just this storm, but the unpredictable future as well.