A slow-moving tropical storm crossed islands off Australia’s heavily populated eastern coast late Friday, lashing coastal suburbs with destructive winds and dumping heavy rain across the region.

Ex-tropical Cyclone Alfred has been downgraded to a tropical low, as it approaches Australia’s eastern coast. Although the speed at which Alfred is travelling has slowed, Brisbane locals have been sent a stark warning of what might be to come.

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’s third-most populous city.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred has crossed the islands off the coast of Queensland as a category one system, bringing with it destructive winds and heavy rain. An emergency alert was issued for Moreton Island just before 6pm on Friday night, telling residents to take shelter immediately as the impact of the storm was being felt.

Millions of Australians have been warned to prepare for Cyclone Alfred, a dangerous storm that will bring widespread disruption to southern Queensland and northern New South Wales. It's extremely rare to see a cyclone as far south as this which will impact the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast.

Cyclone Alfred closes in on Australia’s Gold Coast Live from Southport beach on the Gold Coast of Queensland, with Cyclone Alfred expected to make landfall on Saturday. The Australian east coast is already facing wind and rain ahead of its first tropical cyclone in 51 years,

Alfred is expected to become the first cyclone to cross the coast near Brisbane since Cyclone Zoe hit Gold Coast in 1974 and brought widespread flooding.