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.

Schools are closed, public transport has stopped and desperate residents are getting around shortages of sandbags by buying sacks of potting mix as a region of eastern Australia is lashed by wind and

A Kiwi pensioner trapped on the Gold Coast as Cyclone Alfred thrashed Australia’s eastern coast overnight has described the experience as “noisy” and disruptive, but no comparison to natural events she’s lived through on this side of the Tasman.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred updates as it heads to Brisbane and Gold Coast View of the sea in Southport as cyclone Alfred barrels to Australia. Subscribe to The Sun: Get The Sun's latest news, exclusives,

Tropical Cyclone Alfred is forecast to cross the coast between the Queensland state capital Brisbane and the tourist city of Gold Coast to the south late Thursday or early Friday.