Easter exodus chaos continues on roads and in airports
Millions of Australians are hitting the roads, the airports and the fish markets are a hive of activity for the Easter long weekend but the East Coast is still on watch for severe weather to dampen celebrations.
Good Friday has begun and many Aussies will be basking in the long weekend relaxation but not before getting to their destinations with a plethora of food.
But residents are warned of turbulent weather today as a severe storm cell bears down on three states.
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Travel chaos continues
Nearly seven million will be flying across the country this month with terminals the busiest they have been since before the pandemic.
Sydney Airport predicts Easter will be some of the busiest days with 120,000 passengers heading through the terminals.
Melbourne Airport is preparing to handle 2.1 million passengers over the Easter holidays.
Brisbane Airport broke its post-pandemic record with more than 69,000 people travelling through the domestic and international airport on Thursday.
Drivers across the country are also being told to prepare for traffic gridlock.
Authorities have urged drivers to be on alert while heading to holiday celebrations after several crashes occurred yesterday.
Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir said it has been a “horrible start” to the year on the state’s roads and around the country but there are concerns about the toll this Easter.
“In January in Victoria, we lost 37 lives which is the most that we can ever find in a record,” he said.
“We know this holiday period over Easter will be really, really challenging for us there are lots of people out on the roads.”
It isn’t just concerns about the road toll, but authorities will be looking out for drivers doing the wrong thing from speeding, under the influence of drugs and alcohol and using mobile phones.
“It is people’s responsibility to do the right thing,” he said.
“It’s not hard. Perhaps some discipline.”
Double demerits are in place in NSW, Western Australia and the ACT but other states will be cracking down on bad driving behaviour.
Aussies snap up last-minute lunch staples
Meanwhile, in an Easter classic, the Sydney Fish Markets has been a frenzy this morning as Good Friday customers get their last minute delights.
Over 50,000 people are set to pass through today and around 650 tonnes of seafood is on offer throughout the Easter long weekend.
Alex Stollznow from the fish markets said it is expected to be a constant flow of customers today.
“It ebbs and flows. Most of the people here today are very focused and know what they want to buy so they’re in and out in 15 minutes,” he said.
But he said there is plenty of seafood for all Sydneysiders this weekend.
Those heading down have until 5pm this afternoon to snap up their seafood of choice.
Severe storm cell to hit east coast
It’s the long weekend news many Australians were dreading with wet conditions expected around the country today.
But it’s the east coast that is in the firing line with possibly severe storms to bear down on celebrations.
Let’s have a look at the capital cities.
A possible storm is on the way for Brisbane with a top of 27 degrees.
There are similar conditions and showers in Sydney with a maximum of 24 degrees.
It will be a wet one in Melbourne with a top of 19 degrees.
The Bureau of Meteorology warned for all three east coast capitals there is a “very high chance of showers” beginning this morning with the chance of a severe thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening.
“A strong cold front moving across southern Australia is expected to bring widespread thunderstorms to parts of eastern Australia on Good Friday and ushering a wintery weekend for the Easter weekend,” the bureau said.
“Storms may become severe in these areas producing heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding, damaging wind gusts that may bring down power lines or trains and hail.”
The bureau recommended keeping an eye on warnings as conditions are subject to change.
For Hobart, showers are also forecast with a high of 21 degrees.
Showers will ease and a high of 22 degrees will be experienced in Adelaide.
And a shower or two for Perth and a top of 25 degrees.
