Schools and businesses across southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales will close today and tomorrow as Tropical Cyclone Alfred looms ever closer.
The category 2 storm is expected to make landfall late on Thursday evening, bringing with it damaging winds, intense rainfall and the possibility of flash flooding.
Sports and other events have also been called off in anticipation of the cyclone’s arrival.
Here’s everything you need to know about school, business and other closures and cancellations as Cyclone Alfred approaches.
School closures: Queensland
Most Queensland schools remain open on Wednesday, per the Queensland Department of Education, and will close on Thursday before the storm makes landfall.
“Schools will be closed in the impacted area tomorrow and Friday,” Queensland Premier David Crisafulli confirmed today.
Schools on North Stradbroke and Moreton Bay islands are open, but only for supervision.
Many child care centres are already closed and many universities are expected to pause teaching from Thursday.
School closures: New South Wales
In northern New South Wales, more than 100 schools have closed from Tweed Heads to Yamba as local communities brace for impact.
“We request families in affected areas to not send your children to school for the next three days,” the NSW Department of Education said in a statement on X.
“Our school staff will be onsite this morning in case the message is not received in time.”
Some local child care centres have also shut.
AFL and NRL games in southeast Queensland have been shifted or postponed ahead of Cyclone Alfred’s arrival, including Thursday night’s AFL season opener between the Brisbane Lions and Geelong Cats.
Saturday’s AFL match between the Suns and Essendon at Carrara has also been postponed.
The NRL game between the Dolphins and the Rabbitohs at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night has been relocated to Sydney’s Commbank Stadium.
A Saturday night Women’s A-League match at Perry Park has been called off.
Other sporting events including the Australian Boardriders Battle grand final, the Queensland Surf Life Saving Championships, WPGA tournament and Mooloolaba Triathlon have been cancelled or postponed.
Junior and amateur sport events are expected to be cancelled as well.
American rock band Green Day cancelled their Wednesday night concert at CBUS Stadium, urging fans to “Stay safe out there!”
Community events and local markets are expected to be called off across southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales.
Long lines for sandbags as millions brace for cyclone’s impact
Many businesses in Queensland will close from Thursday, as well as council libraries, community halls, golf courses, pools and playgrounds.
Some supermarkets in Queensland are currently restocking 24/7 to meet demand as locals stock up on essentials, unsure if stores will remain open through the storm.
9news.com.au understands that Coles and Woolworths stores are operating as usual at present and will monitor the situation.
Airports in Queensland and northern New South Wales remain open but airlines have warned travellers to keep in contact if they have an upcoming flight.
Qantas has cancelled dozens of domestic flights in and out of the area.
The airline will suspend flights to and from the Gold Coast from 4pm today, and fights in and out of Ballina and Coffs Harbour in NSW will be cancelled from midnight tomorrow.
Virgin Australia, Qantas, and Jetstar have offered customers booked on flights in the affected areas flexible travel options to avoid flying during the worst of the storm.
In Queensland, some bus and ferry services have already been halted.
Brisbane River ferries and Southern Moreton Bay Island ferries are not running until further notice. Buses running in the Redlands region have also been cancelled.
“Public transport is slated to go all through today, but it will not be operational on Thursday and Friday,” Crisafulli said today.
Disruptions are also expected in parts of New South Wales, with Burns Point Ferry services in Ballina already stopped.
No road closures have been announced in Queensland or northern New South Wales, but travellers in affected areas have been warned to avoid unecessary journeys from tomorrow.
“Queenslanders need to be prepared for major roads and bridges to be closed,” Crisafulli confirmed.
