Rare tropical cyclone to hit Australia's east coast

People living on Australia's East Coast are preparing for a rare tropical cyclone to hit - the first in the area for more than 50 years.

Cyclone Alfred, a category 2 cyclone, is due to make landfall near Brisbane by Saturday morning.

However, the impact is already been felt across parts of south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales.

More than 1,300 schools have closed as a precaution, and airports, businesses and public transport have also shut down.

Emergency services are also helping to restore power after around 80,000 homes were left without electricity as strong winds and rain brought down power lines.

What's the latest?

Cyclone Alfred is expected to hit land as a Category 2 storm north of Brisbane, Australia's third most populated city, on Saturday morning local time (Friday evening UK time).

Meteorologists are worried that its slow-moving progress toward the coast could mean a longer period of intense rain in the area.

The cyclone may still a while away from making landfall but its effects are already being felt, with the Gold Coast battered by heavy winds and rain with local flooding in some areas.

Wind gusts of more than 62 mph have been recorded so far in coastal regions.

Flooding has already been recorded in some areas

Authorities have ordered thousands of people living in the affected areas to evacuate before Cyclone Alfred arrives.

Meteorologists are warning that the cyclone could cause damage to houses and buildings.

Australia's Bureau of Meteorology, which is responsible for weather forecasts in the country, has also warned that there could be major flooding in low-lying areas.

On average, four cyclones hit Australia each year but what makes Alfred very rare is just how far south in the country the storm is.

The last similar cyclone to take such a route was more than fifty years ago, in 1974.