The latest update from the Bureau of Meteorology says Alfred remains a category two cyclone, with sustained winds at its centre of 95km/hr, and gusts of up to 130km/hr.
It’s heading south-west at seven kilometres an hour.
The storm’s far western edge is already affecting the coast from Coolangatta in Queensland to Ballina in NSW.
The Bureau is still predicting a Friday landfall, most likely between Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast and Coolangatta on the Gold Coast.
Damaging wind gusts of up to 120km/hr are developing between Coolangatta and Ballina now, and are expected to extend today throughout the full cyclone warning zone from Double Island Point (Queensland) and Grafton (NSW).
The Bureau has also warned of the potential for destructive wind gusts of up to 155km/hr near the cyclone’s centre and as far south as Cape Byron, when Alfred crosses the coast.
Heavy rain, possibly leading to flash flooding, is forecast for south-east Queensland and north-east NSW from this evening.