Heavy rain and high tides have closed roads, isolated communities and forced three flood rescues across the Northern Rivers.

Locally, Ballina Shire Council has confirmed Ross Lane is closed with just over 30mm of rain recorded at Lennox Head over the past 24 hours.

NSW SES said volunteers and emergency services had responded to 197 incidents since yesterday afternoon, mostly confined to the border region.

Three rescues were carried out after people or vehicles became trapped in floodwaters at Numinbah, Brewongle and Goonengerry.

In the rescue pictured, shared by VRA NSW, the agency says it worked alongside emergency services to rescue a driver and his pet that were swept off a causeway in the Numimbah Valley.

“These incidents are a timely reminder that floodwaters are extremely dangerous and conditions can change rapidly,” it said in a social media post.

NSW SES Assistant Commissioner Dean Storey said flooded roads and isolation remained the biggest risks today.

“The safest thing people can do right now is stay where they are and avoid travelling until floodwaters go down,” he said.

“We’ve already seen several flood rescues that could have ended very badly.”

Minor flooding has been observed at Tumbulgum after moderate to heavy rain since Sunday night.

Residents in low-lying areas including Uki, Fingal Head, Crabbes Creek, Tumbulgum, Wollumbin, Stotts Creek, Chinderah, Burringbar, Mooball and West Burringbar have been warned to prepare for possible isolation.

Low level flooding is predicted for the Wilsons River at Lismore.

Conditions are expected to improve later today as tides fall and floodwaters recede.

People should avoid floodwater, check Hazards Near Me and call 132 500 for SES help, or Triple Zero in emergencies.

Main image: Volunteer rescue crews responding to a car washed off a causeway in the Numinbah Valley on the NSW/QLD border. (Photo:VRA Rescue NSW)