Rahul Somvanshi
Authorities across Queensland and northern New South Wales have ordered hundreds of school closures as Tropical Cyclone Alfred approaches the heavily populated southeast coast.
More than 600 Queensland schools will shut their doors on Thursday and Friday, while 122 schools in northern NSW have closed from Wednesday through Friday. The cyclone, currently a Category 2 system, is expected to make landfall between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast late Thursday or early Friday.
“Schools are obviously open today, they will be closed tomorrow and Friday,” Queensland Premier David Crisafulli confirmed on Wednesday.
The massive weather system threatens more than 4 million residents across southeast Queensland and northeast NSW with potential flash flooding, damaging winds and storm surges. Emergency declarations have been implemented to ensure continued supply of essential goods.
“Public transport is slated to go all through today, but it will not be operational on Thursday and Friday,” Crisafulli added. Buses and trains across southeast Queensland will halt Wednesday night, with services canceled for at least Thursday and Friday.
In New South Wales, the Education Department has closed 122 schools in the Northern Rivers region, including facilities in Casino, Chatsworth Island, Gulmarrad, and Evans River.
“We don’t want people in a dangerous situation or vulnerable situation in the coming 48 hours,” NSW Premier Chris Minns said.
NSW authorities warned that child supervision services would be available for parents who must work during the closures. Schools in both states are expected to resume normal operations on Monday, March 10.
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Sports and Events Disrupted
The approaching cyclone has forced numerous sporting events to be postponed or relocated. Thursday night’s AFL season opener between Brisbane Lions and Geelong Cats has been postponed, along with Saturday’s match between Gold Coast Suns and Essendon at Carrara.
The NRL moved Friday night’s game between the Dolphins and South Sydney Rabbitohs from Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium to Sydney’s Commbank Stadium. A Women’s A-League match scheduled for Saturday at Perry Park has been called off entirely.
Other canceled or postponed sporting events include the Australian Boardriders Battle grand final, Queensland Surf Life Saving Championships, WPGA tournament, and the Mooloolaba Triathlon.
American rock band Green Day canceled their Wednesday night concert at CBUS Stadium, telling fans to “Stay safe out there!” Many community events and local markets across the affected regions are also expected to be canceled.
Business and Transport Disruptions
Many Queensland businesses will close from Thursday, along with council facilities including libraries, community halls, golf courses, pools, and playgrounds.
Supermarkets across the region are reportedly restocking around the clock to meet increased demand as residents stock up on essentials. Coles and Woolworths stores are currently operating as usual but monitoring the situation closely.
Airports in the affected areas remain open, though Virgin Australia, Qantas, and Jetstar have offered flexible travel options to customers with upcoming flights.
Brisbane River ferries and Southern Moreton Bay Island ferries have already suspended operations, along with buses in the Redlands region. In NSW, Burns Point Ferry services in Ballina have stopped running.
“Queenslanders need to be prepared for major roads and bridges to be closed,” Premier Crisafulli warned.
Safety Warnings
NSW Premier Chris Minns delivered a stark warning about flood dangers: “Under no circumstances or no event—do not drive through floodwaters or walk through floodwaters. It is the major way people lose their lives in these natural emergencies.”
Minns urged residents in potentially affected areas to download four essential mobile apps: Emergency Plus for precise location sharing with rescuers, Hazards Near Me for hazard information, Live Traffic for road conditions, and BoM Weather for forecasts.
The State Emergency Service has advised people in the cyclone’s path to secure loose items around their properties, trim trees away from buildings, and park vehicles away from trees and power lines due to expected strong winds.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Northern NSW on Tuesday and planned to return Wednesday as preparations continue for what could become a significant weather emergency across two states.
