Premier urges residents to stay home as cyclone nears

Anxious communities are hunkering down as Cyclone Alfred rapidly makes its way towards northern NSW, as the premier urges residents to stay put.

The State Emergency Service has warned all residents to remain indoors including in Lismore and Byron Bay – towns that were previously devastated by record-breaking floods three years ago.

Around a dozen prepare to evacuate orders have been issued including for Ballina, Belongil and Kyogle.

Underscoring the severity of the impending natural disaster, Premier Chris Minns has flown to Lismore thanking some 2000 SES volunteers who are stationed in the region.

“Stay out of flood waters, stay at home during the peak of the storm – make good decisions,” he said on Thursday.

“We hope for the best, but we’re prepared for the worst.”

The category two cyclone is expected to lash the east coast with heavy rain and wind forecast to peak on Thursday night and Friday morning.

Gales with damaging wind gusts up to 120 km/h are expected to hit island communities between Double Island Point and Grafton on Thursday and continue on Friday.

Cape Byron, the easternmost point of mainland Australia, will be in the eye of the storm with dangerous storm tides and destructive winds of up to 155 km/h predicted.

Abnormally high tides and damaging surf conditions along the northern coast have also been recorded with warnings issued to avoid beaches.

Major flooding at Thora and Bellingen is possible in the coming days according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

Flights to Ballina have also been cancelled due to high winds.

By: Farid Farid – AAP