Residents in northern NSW are being told to prepare for floods and damaging winds as the remnants of ex-tropical cyclone Oswald begin to affect the region.
Oswald has already brought severe flooding to northern and central coastal areas of Queensland,leading to hundreds of evacuations.
Authorities say the full brunt of the weather system should start to hit northern NSW late on Saturday (AEST).
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The State Emergency Service (SES) has sent flood rescue and storm teams to the mid-north coast and north coast in readiness.
"With many people travelling around the northern parts of the state over the Australia Day long weekend, holidaymakers should consider the severe weather conditions in their travel plans as many major roads and highways could be cut off by floodwater," SES commissioner Murray Kear said.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has warned of possible flooding on rivers from the Queensland border down to the Lower Hunter Valley.
It issued a severe weather warning on Friday, saying there'll be heavy downpours throughout those areas from Saturday night.
"This slow-moving weather system will reach the far northeast on Saturday bringing heavy rainfall, before moving south to the mid-north coast and adjacent ranges on Sunday and Monday," BoM regional director Barry Hanstrum said.
There's also likely to be gale force winds from Sunday.
Mr Hanstrum said communities likely to be affected include Ballina, Byron Bay, Grafton, Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie.
