The outer bands of Tropical Cyclone Alfred are lashing Australia’s east coast with wind and rain as the rare southerly storm’s eye inches closer to landfall expected on Saturday morning.

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,

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli gave an update on the ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred earlier this morning. Strong winds from Cyclone Alfred have torn the roof off a building on the Gold Coast. As winter descends on Oak Island and clues continue to be uncovered,

Ex-tropical cyclone Alfred lingered off the south-east Australian coast on Saturday and forecasters said Brisbane is likely to miss the worst of the storm, a relief for millions of residents in the region who have been staying indoors.

Tropical storm Alfred could cause significant flooding in eastern Australia despite the slowly moving storm no longer being a cyclone.

Storm "Alfred" has knocked out power to over 300,000 buildings in eastern Australia. Though the cyclone has been downgraded to a tropical depression, authorities are urging residents to stay indoors.