Tropical Cyclone Alfred is expected to cross the south-east Queensland coast later this week, bringing significant wind, rain and coastal impacts.

Millions have been warned to brace for days without power after Tropical Cyclone Alfred makes landfall later this week. The cyclone was upgraded to a category two system overnight and is expected to turn west “directly” towards the coast of Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast later on Tuesday,

More than four million people across Brisbane, the Sunshine coast and Gold Coast in Queensland as well as in northern NSW towns including Byron Bay and Lismore are planning for Cyclone Alfred. Locals been warned to brace for possible daily rainfall totals of 200 to 400 millimetres, life-threatening flash flooding and wind gusts up to 120km/h.

Cyclone Alfred is heading towards the Australian coast, bringing destructive winds and heavy rain and prompting calls for residents to take the threat seriously.

It will be the first time the south-east has been in the direct firing line of a tropical cyclone in several decades.

Significant damage and power outages are possible in the densely populated region of Queensland, where tropical cyclones impacts are not uncommon, but direct landfalls are.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred is expected to hit Australia’s east coast later this week. Here's where it is likely to strike.

Millions of residents along Australia’s east coast are on high alert for the arrival of Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

As tropical Cyclone Alfred is expected to make landfall in Queensland later this week, councils in the state’s southeast have begun to reduce services including ferries and kerbside collection. The cyclone is currently approximately 560 kilometres off the east coast of the state,