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.

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.

Hundreds of schools will be closed across Queensland and NSW tomorrow as ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred continues to smash the east coast. In Queensland, which 7NEWS meteorologist Tony Auden earlier warned was bracing for “phenomenal” rain totals, hundreds of schools are expected to be closed across the state.

The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting Cyclone Alfred to cross the coast early Friday morning, most likely between Maroochydore and Coolangatta. Take a look back at how the day's events unfolded.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred is on track to make landfall on Saturday morning, with south-east Queensland and northern NSW already feeling the impacts of the storm.