# Brisbane schools and public transport shut as Cyclone Alfred to hit later than expected

Parts of Queensland and NSW prepare as BoM weather forecast shows Alfred making landfall between Maroochydore and Coolangatta

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Schools, airports, public transport and most businesses are beginning to  and across south-east Queensland, as authorities advised Tropical Cyclone Alfred will likely arrive later than expected.

Advice to residents is now that Alfred’s track to the coast has slowed, and that it will likely cross the southeast  coast at some point on Friday.

It would still likely hit the coast as a “high end” category two system, but possibly a category three. The centre should cross somewhere between Maroochydore and Coolangatta.

An updated BOM briefing from just after 5am on Thursday says the models - which had largely been consistent in showing Alfred’s track to the coast - had shown “greater variation in the strength of the steering flow”.

“The consensus is now for slower westward motion, and as a result a delayed time of coastal crossing.

“The latest track indicates a coastal crossing is more likely during daylight hours on Friday, however the spread of guidance now includes the possibility of crossing being delayed until Saturday.”





The region could see up to 800mm of rain according to the BoM, with localised flash flooding possible.

Residents were also warned to stay indoors and off the road, particularly during high wind.

The Brisbane lord mayor, Adrian Schrinner, said driving was “not recommended over the next two days, and even the next three days”.

“It can be an incredibly dangerous situation. There can be items that have become projectiles, that can crash into you. There can be fallen power lines as a result of fallen trees that can electrocute you.”





The Queensland premier, David Crisafulli, said there were three major threats anticipated from the storm: a storm surge and erosion, damaging winds and finally flooding rain.

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, who travelled to the Queensland capital, said the Australian defence force had been engaged, on request from the state government.

“I’m here working with Premier Crisafulli, absolutely in lockstep. There is no political parties here,” Albanese said on Wednesday. “There are no borders between  and Queensland, just Australians working together.”

## Schools, airports, businesses closures: everything that’s shut as Tropical Cyclone Alfred approaches



Two firefighting helicopters had been readied for service in a cargo role, he said.

The commonwealth has delivered more than 125,000 sandbags as of Wednesday morning, with tens of thousands more on order.

Sandbag depots were beginning to close, with the City of Moreton Bay shutting down its distributions points at about midday Wednesday. Brisbane City Council’s sandbag depot was set to close at 8pm on Wednesday, after more than 400,000 sandbags were distributed.

A red alert was issued for vessels, and no boat is permitted on the water in the affected area without permission.

## Schools, airports, businesses closures: everything that’s shut as Tropical Cyclone Alfred approaches



## Schools, airports, businesses closures: everything that’s shut as Tropical Cyclone Alfred approaches



## Schools, airports, businesses closures: everything that’s shut as Tropical Cyclone Alfred approaches



## Schools, airports, businesses closures: everything that’s shut as Tropical Cyclone Alfred approaches



## Schools, airports, businesses closures: everything that’s shut as Tropical Cyclone Alfred approaches



## Schools, airports, businesses closures: everything that’s shut as Tropical Cyclone Alfred approaches



## Schools, airports, businesses closures: everything that’s shut as Tropical Cyclone Alfred approaches



## Schools, airports, businesses closures: everything that’s shut as Tropical Cyclone Alfred approaches



## Schools, airports, businesses closures: everything that’s shut as Tropical Cyclone Alfred approaches



## Schools, airports, businesses closures: everything that’s shut as Tropical Cyclone Alfred approaches



## Schools, airports, businesses closures: everything that’s shut as Tropical Cyclone Alfred approaches



## Schools, airports, businesses closures: everything that’s shut as Tropical Cyclone Alfred approaches



## Schools, airports, businesses closures: everything that’s shut as Tropical Cyclone Alfred approaches



## Schools, airports, businesses closures: everything that’s shut as Tropical Cyclone Alfred approaches



## Schools, airports, businesses closures: everything that’s shut as Tropical Cyclone Alfred approaches



## Schools, airports, businesses closures: everything that’s shut as Tropical Cyclone Alfred approaches



## Schools, airports, businesses closures: everything that’s shut as Tropical Cyclone Alfred approaches



## Schools, airports, businesses closures: everything that’s shut as Tropical Cyclone Alfred approaches



## Schools, airports, businesses closures: everything that’s shut as Tropical Cyclone Alfred approaches



## Schools, airports, businesses closures: everything that’s shut as Tropical Cyclone Alfred approaches



## Schools, airports, businesses closures: everything that’s shut as Tropical Cyclone Alfred approaches



## Schools, airports, businesses closures: everything that’s shut as Tropical Cyclone Alfred approaches



## Schools, airports, businesses closures: everything that’s shut as Tropical Cyclone Alfred approaches



## Schools, airports, businesses closures: everything that’s shut as Tropical Cyclone Alfred approaches



## Schools, airports, businesses closures: everything that’s shut as Tropical Cyclone Alfred approaches



## Schools, airports, businesses closures: everything that’s shut as Tropical Cyclone Alfred approaches



## Schools, airports, businesses closures: everything that’s shut as Tropical Cyclone Alfred approaches



## Schools, airports, businesses closures: everything that’s shut as Tropical Cyclone Alfred approaches



## Schools, airports, businesses closures: everything that’s shut as Tropical Cyclone Alfred approaches



## Schools, airports, businesses closures: everything that’s shut as Tropical Cyclone Alfred approaches



## Schools, airports, businesses closures: everything that’s shut as Tropical Cyclone Alfred approaches


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