Four million people are in the firing line of Cyclone Alfred. It's expected to hit between the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast - a stretch of Australia known for its beautiful beaches and top surf – as well as Brisbane, Australia's third-biggest city.

The fringe of a tropical cyclone started whipping eastern Australia on Thursday (Mar 6), bringing drenching rains and record-breaking waves to a heavily populated region rarely hit by typhoons.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred is forecast to make landfall somewhere between the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast on Thursday.

Millions of Australians have been warned to prepare for Cyclone Alfred, a dangerous storm that will bring widespread disruption to southern Queensland and northern New South Wales. It's extremely rare to see a cyclone as far south as this which will impact the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast.

Cyclone Alfred stalled off Australia's east coast on Thursday (March 6) but its presence could be felt as it brought heavy rain and high winds to northern New South Wales. Greenland: Why is it valuable?

Damaging winds, heavy rainfall and life-threatening floods are expected after the storm made a sudden shift toward Queensland.

People prepare for wild weather as meteorologists forecast Tropical Cyclone Alfred will hit Queensland later this week, with the state’s capital in its path

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.