Cyclone Alfred has intensified to Category 2 as it barrels towards Australia’s southeastern coast, prompting evacuation orders and a state of emergency. The storm is expected to make landfall on Thursday or Friday between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast and could be one of the most destructive in the region in decades,

A heavily populated stretch of Australia's eastern coast battened down on Tuesday for what could be the first tropical cyclone to pummel the region in 50 years. Tropical Cyclone Alfred was swirling about 550 kilometers (340 miles) east of the city of Brisbane,

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.

The category two cyclone is currently around 400 miles east of Brisbane and is expected to make landfall over the next couple of days

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

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.