Alfred is forecast to make landfall near Brisbane, the capital of Queensland and Australia’s third largest city.

Premier David Crisafulli says the system is starting to “pack a bit of a punch” as it moved closer to Brisbane.

Cyclone Alfred is bearing down on south-east Queensland and north-east New South Wales and is now expected to make landfall at Redcliffe, just north of Brisbane. Strong winds and heavy rain are already making an impact.

Residents are stacking sandbags to protect low-lying properties ahead of a tropical cyclone that is forecast to become the first in 51 years to hit the Australian east coast near Brisbane, the nation’s third-most populous city.

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.

But while authorities have been warning residents to stay indoors as Cyclone Alfred approaches, die-hard surfers have been throwing caution to the increasing wind. "This is what we look forward to," said Jeff Weatherall as he waited for a jet ski to pick him up from Kirra beach and carry him into the big waves.

From Byron Bay to Brisbane and beyond, the effects of Tropical Cyclone Alfred are being felt on Friday morning.

Rain was pouring down in Brisbane, Queensland, as Tropical Cyclone Alfred neared the Australian coast. More Videos. Trump warns Hamas as US holds unprecedented talks for Gaza host

Cyclone Alfred stalled off Australia's east coast delaying landfall as officials shut airports, schools and public transport and residents stockpiled supplies and sandbagged homes against floodwaters expected when the category-two storm hits.