Alfred is forecast to make landfall near Brisbane, the capital of Queensland and Australia’s third largest city.

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.

Australia braced for a rare east coast tropical cyclone that is swirling towards Brisbane, its third-most populous city, with authorities urging residents in flood-prone suburbs to evacuate soon.