As it happened: Election speculation ramps up; Worsening extreme weather fuelling insurance crisis

Flood-weary residents have been told to prepare for the worst and hope for the best as Tropical Cyclone Alfred approaches, with 20,000 people at risk of flooding in the worst-case scenario.

The category two cyclone is expected to lash northern NSW with heavy rain and wind, which is forecast to peak late on Friday and early Saturday.

The State Emergency Service has issued 24 prepare-to-evacuate orders for the Northern Rivers, including towns such as Ballina, previously devastated by record-breaking floods three years ago.

Acting Chief Superintendent Stuart Fisher said the weather events could be worse than the 2022 floods that smashed the region.

“I cannot stress enough this is a significant weather event, not like 2022, where we had a single event,” he said on Thursday.

Loading

Rainfall of 700mm is expected to hit the region, with authorities stressing to “pray for the best but prepare for the worst”.

More than 2000 emergency volunteers armed with drones, high clearance vehicles and water pumps have been deployed, but Premier Chris Minns stressed they cannot be everywhere and urged everyone to use common sense.

“(Cyclone) Alfred is behaving like a completely unwanted house guest,” the premier told reporters in Lismore.

“Unfortunately, that means the window for destruction in our community – heavy rains, winds, powerful surf – is longer than we would have otherwise liked.

“Prepare for the worst and hope for the best.”

Fourteen evacuation centres have been established in areas such as Lismore, Mullumbimby and Murwillumbah.

SES Commissioner Mike Wassing said some 20,000 people across 10,000 homes could be affected in the “worst case scenario”.

Farid Farid AAP