Sunshine Coast schools and day care centres will close ahead of Tropical Cyclone Alfred, Premier David Crisafulli has announced, as residents are urged to prepare for landfall.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred is expected to cross the south-east Queensland coast later this week, bringing significant wind, rain and coastal impacts.

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, with it about 560km east of the capital as of that morning.

Police are warning hundreds of Sunshine Coast residents which could be impacted by flooding, as Tropical Cyclone Alfred continues its journey towards the coastline

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.

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

Tropical Cyclone Alfred is likely to hit north of Brisbane. As of March 4, 2025, the cyclone was sitting at a category 2 whilst offshore near the Sunshine Coast.

Four million people are making last-minute preparations for tropical Cyclone Alfred's arrival as the weather system lurks off Australia's east coast.