Tropical Cyclone Alfred will cross the coast near the area of Brisbane late Friday or early Saturday. Forecasters are predicting damaging winds, heavy rain and storm surges, and authorities have issued warnings about extreme flooding.

Residents are stacking sandbags to protect low-lying properties ahead of a tropical cyclone that is forecast to become the first in 51 years to hit the Australian east coast near Brisbane, the nation’

Millions of residents along Australia’s eastern coast are preparing for the impact of the most southerly cyclone to threaten the region in more than five decades.