Ex-cyclone Alfred has unleashed heavy rain and gusty winds upon Queensland, with the state bracing for extensive flooding. The Queensland government faces tough decisions as it assesses the damage and determines which schools will reopen on Monday, March 10, after the storm wreaks havoc.
Local residents are on high alert as Brisbane becomes soaked, and authorities warn of flash flooding with roads cut off and parks submerged. The Bureau of Meteorology issued dire forecasts, expecting rainfall totals of up to 700 millimetres by Monday.
Gusts clocking 100 km/h battered the southeast corner of the state on Saturday night, stripping roofs from homes, uprooting trees, and causing power outages. Reports indicate over 320,000 households lost electricity by Sunday morning, including more than 50,000 just within Brisbane itself.
The cyclone made landfall at 9 PM on Saturday, March 8, hitting the coast between Brisbane and Maroochydore. It transitioned from storm to tropical low by moving inland, causing severe weather worries for the state. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, isolated rainfall could reach as much as 400 mm on Sunday alone.
With the storm's aftermath looming, State Premier David Crisafulli said officials are assessing the condition of schools and gymnastics for private and Catholic institutions to establish their capacity to resume operations. "It is our intention to do everything we can to be able to bring as many schools back online for Monday," he stated.
Supermarkets and service stations began cautiously reopening on Sunday, with officials urging them to share information as quickly as possible with the local populace. Crisafulli encouraged small business owners to relaunch operations if conditions permit, emphasizing, "No one pays their bills when they’re closed. They need us to help get them up on their feet." The restaurants and retailers are being urged to open if feasible, as the storm passes and recovery efforts begin.
Significantly, Brisbane’s flood watch continues. Matthew Collopy, the bureau's Brisbane manager, expressed concern about potential life-threatening flooding across the region. He indicated, "We’re expecting widespread totals of three to 500 millimetres, and event totals of up to 700 millimetres are possible through to Monday." This ominous forecast prompts immediate responses from emergency services and local municipalities.
Public transport correlatively resumed on Sunday, omitting train and Gold Coast bus lines amid restoration attempts. Notably, Moreton Bay ferries are set to get back to schedule, and Brisbane and Gold Coast airports reopened following the storm, with two international flights touching down before 7 AM.
Daily life is showing signs of returning to normalcy, though not without challenges. Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner announced on Sunday special bin collections for residents unable to have their refuse gathered prior to the storm. "Council’s contractor has warned it may not be possible to complete every pick-up," he pointed out.
Residents desperately trying to clear their clutter should expect more than 175,000 collections on this busy day. Regular collections, including yellow and green bins, are anticipated to restart on Monday.
Alongside the storm’s chaos, two baby boys named Alfie made their arrival at Mater Mothers’ Hospital on Friday, March 7, highlighting the resilience amid natural turbulence. General manager Kerri Gane cited the babies as part of the 66 born over three days at the facility.
Left with destruction, recovery efforts are already underway after ex-tropical cyclone Alfred makes clear its impact across the region. Premier Crisafulli reiterated the importance of monitoring the weather as rain and high winds are forecast to linger. Officials stress the need for continuous updates and caution—prompting residents to heed warnings to stay off the roads where possible, until conditions improve.
Looking to the midweek forecast, meteorologists expect the weather system to finally shift, clearing up the conditions by Wednesday, March 12. Until then, Brisbane holds its breath as the impact of Alfred continues to permeate through daily life.