Tropical Cyclone Alfred live updates: Extreme weather event triggers more evacuations across NSW

Major airlines Qantas and Virgin have temporarily halted flights from Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Ballina on Friday and Saturday.

A Virgin Australia spokesperson has advised passengers that flights may resume on Sunday if it is safe to do so.

Virgin Australia said impacted passengers will be conacted directly to rearrange alternative flights.

Qantas also suspended Group flights to and from Coffs Harbour as of midnight on Wednesday.

A Qantas spokesperson said “If you wish to change your booking or no longer wish to travel, we’re offering a travel credit or fee-free date change - up to 14 days from the original date of travel, subject to availability.”

Passengers travelling via either airline are urged to regularly check their carrier’s website for updates.

Heavy rainfall is developing for southeast Queensland and northeastern New South Wales.

Heavy to locally intense rainfall which may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding may occur near and south of the cyclone centre as Alfred approaches and crosses the coast.

Lismore is expected to begin flooding, with more rainfall than initially expected, partly because Cyclone Alfred is slowing down.

More than 17,000 homes are without power in south east Queensland.

Coolangatta is the worst-hit area, with nearly 4000 properties impacted by the blackout.

Currumbin Waters has 2,273 without power and Mudgeeraba has 1,467.

The Bureau of Meteorology issued an updated adivce at 11pm saying, the centre of Alfred is expected to cross the coast Friday night or early Saturday morning, most likely between Noosa and Coolangatta.

The system is currently a category two and is expected to remain at that strength until it crosses the coast.

The warning zone is: Double Island Point in Queensland to Grafton in New South Wales, including Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Byron Bay and Ballina but not including Grafton.

Time is running out for people in North Shore, Limeburners Creek and Riverside to evacuate, with SES NSW saying people need to be out of the area by 1am.

“You must evacuate before this time because high tide and storm surges will cause isolation in this area,” the warning stated.

If you are unable to find accommodation, an evacuation centre has been set up at:

• Panthers Port Macquarie, 1 Bay Street, Port Macquarie NSW

A rookie surfer has taken it upon himself to learn how to surf…during a cyclone.

Tim Lawrence picked up a second-hand surfboard and headed to a beach on the Gold Coast.

He apparently thought there was “no better” time to surf intense swell.

​In a video shared to TikTok​, he said he received a lot of stares, but no surprises there as he was wearing budgie smugglers while entering the wild waves.

While paddling out, the keen surfer had a reality check as “no one else was out there”.

The expedition was mostly unsuccessful after only catching some whitewash.

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While thousands of residents have been urged to stay indoors, it seems the safety warning doesn’t apply to everyone.

A video uploaded to TikTok showed a bunch of people taking advantage of the wet and wild conditions by creating a muddy slippery dip.

People, mostly men, were seen throwing themselves down the hilly mud slide, gain speed and end up covered in filth.

There’s always one!

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A mother of twins has documented her family’s last-minute evacuation after authorities issued more urgent alerts.

Katie Bunton has left her house in Mullumbimby and headed for Byron Bay amid flooding concerns.

“Emergency evacuations just happened for a lot of areas in the Byron shire, praying for everyone affected and hoping everyone can get to a friends or family members,” she told her TikTok followers in a video.

“Very grateful to have a backup plan and hoping we made the right gamble…but only time will tell.”

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The NSW SES released more evacuation notices for areas in northern NSW, after telling residents in Lismore earlier to evacuate by tonight.

Residents in parts of North Macksville, Macksville, Bowraville, Nambucca Heads and Gumma have been told to evacuate by 8am on Friday.

People in Codrington should prepare to evacuate with Northern Rivers residents told to stay indoors unless they have been told to flee.

While many homes across South East Queensland and northern NSW are without power, here are some electricity-free activities to keep your family occupied while waiting out Alfred.

• Play board games or card games
• Do jigsaw puzzles
• Play indoor games like charades or Pictionary
• Journal
• Listen to podcasts
• Organise wardrobes or drawers
• Do some craft or learn how to knit

Choose the strongest area of your home to take shelter. The bathroom or hallways are good options.

Also, always keep your emergency kit with you at all times.