Storms, flooding and your commute
Live weather disruptions · updates automatically
From GoThere Brisbane, the free live journey planner for South East Queensland.
Brisbane weather has a running order: the ferries pause first, the buses start detouring, and the trains slow down last. Knowing that order — and seeing what's actually affected right now — is the difference between a wet wait and a dry ride home.
The running order of a storm
Ferries first: fast river flow and debris pull the CityCats before anything else — our CityCat status page tracks it live. Buses second: flooded roads mean detours and skipped stops, usually announced route by route. Trains last: rail keeps running longest, though severe weather brings speed restrictions and knock-on delays — the live train delays page shows the flow-on.
Storm-day playbook
- Check before you leave — the live disruptions board beats standing in the rain finding out.
- Plan with live data — the journey planner routes around suspensions automatically.
- Mind the evening — if weather worsens through the day, confirm your last service home early rather than assuming the usual final departure.
For the dry-but-drizzly days, our rainy-day travel guide covers the umbrella-grade stuff — this page is for when the radar turns purple.
Storm season questions
What stops first in a Brisbane storm?+
The ferries. CityCats are pulled when the river runs fast or carries debris, well before buses or trains change. Buses go next, detouring around flooded roads, and trains typically keep running but under speed restrictions in severe weather.
How do I check what's disrupted during a storm?+
The live panel above shows current weather-related alerts, and the full disruptions board shows everything affecting the network in real time. On a wild day, check before you leave rather than at the stop.
Should I still catch public transport in heavy rain?+
Usually yes — a train beats driving on flooded roads, and the network reroutes itself faster than traffic clears. Allow extra time, plan with live data, and if the evening's deteriorating, check your last service home early in case timetables wind down.
Do storms affect the whole network at once?+
Rarely. Brisbane storms are cellular — one corridor floods while another runs normally. That's why live, route-specific information beats blanket assumptions: your line may be fine even on an ugly radar day.
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Live information on this page comes from TransLink's service alerts feed and updates automatically. Plan any trip with the journey planner.