Cyclone Alfred intensifies to Category 2 ahead of rare landfall in Australia: Latest updates - Storm is expected to make landfall between Brisbane and Sunshine Coast and could be one of most destructi

A large swathe of Australia’s east coast is preparing for strong winds and life-threatening flooding as a tropical cyclone is forecast to make landfall around the nation’s third-largest city.

Australia’s east coast is closely watching Tropical Cyclone Alfred, which has been churning and strengthening over the Coral Sea. Although the storm is expected to stay offshore for now, it’s still set to bring gusty winds, rising swells and hazardous surf conditions to Queensland’s heavily populated coastline in the coming days.

The stadium gig on the Gold Coast slated for Wednesday night (March 5) was the last stop on the Down Under run of the veteran group's "Saviors" tour.

Alfred's intensity may fluctuate in the coming days, but it is expected to make landfall at category 2 strength late Thursday or early Friday morning. It will be the first time the south-east has been in the direct firing line of a tropical cyclone in several decades.

If you're in southeast Queensland, brace yourself. Tropical Cyclone Alfred is expected to cross the southeast Queensland coast late this Thursday as a Category 2 storm. The last tropical cyclone to make landfall in the region was ex-Tropical Cyclone Zoe in 1974,

Category two storm dubbed Cyclone Alfred has made its way towards the coast of Queensland. The cyclone has increased in speed, approaching the coastline at a rate of just over 10 kilometres per hour overnight.

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,