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Cyclone Alfred has completed its U-turn and is heading straight for Queensland's most-populated region as forecasters grow slightly more confident about exactly when and where it will make landfall.
The latest estimate, issued at 8.10pm (9.10pm AEDT), had the category 2 storm crossing the coast late on Thursday or Friday morning near Brisbane, with gales beginning to lash a long strip from the Sunshine Coast to Grafton within the following 24 hours.
Preparations ramped up another gear for 4 million people across south-east Queensland and northern NSW today, as Brisbane residents arrived before dawn and queued for hours to nab what they could of 74,000 sandbags up for grabs.
READ MORE: Where and when Cyclone Alfred will make landfall
AFL and NRL games have been moved or postponed and other travel plans thrown into doubt amid predictions wind gusts could hit 155km/h south of the cyclone's destructive core as a storm tide lashes the coast and heavy rain provokes "dangerous and life-threatening" flash flooding.
Forecasters warned much of south-east Queensland could see 80 to 180 millimetres of rain in just one day, with 300 to 400 millimetres possible south of the system.
At 8pm, Alfred was 550 kilometres east of Brisbane, heading west at 17km/h, with sustained winds near the centre of 95km/h and gusts up to 130km/h.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli warned residents to stay alert ahead of the first cyclone to hit south-east Queensland since Cyclone Wanda and ex-Cyclone Zoe in 1974.
"There is still an element of the population that hasn't yet fully understood the magnitude of this system, and that's completely understandable because it's been many decades since Queensland has been hit in this part of the state," Crisafulli said.
"But one thing I know about Queenslanders is they handle disasters better than anywhere else and we have proven that time and time again.
READ MORE: How to prepare for Tropical Cyclone Alfred and what to expect
"I know the people in the south-east may not have experienced a cyclone before but they have been tested with floods and they have come through with flying colours every time and whilst this is a different kind of event, the preparations you put in place make a world of difference."
The State Emergency Service is preparing for a massive two days as the cyclone approaches.
Sandbagging operations were continuing apace and the SES had already responded to 800 requests for assistance by this afternoon.
"The next 48 hours are critical for maritime support in south-east Queensland," Acting Police Commissioner Shane Chelepy said.
READ MORE: Shelves stripped as millions brace for rare cyclone
Cars wrapped around blocks in queues to depots in Brisbane today, many arriving in the dark in the hope of beating the rush but instead becoming caught up in it.
"People are reduced to animals because they're absolutely surging forward, over the top of us," Pensioner Jan Cadogan, 77, said.
In Darra, the wait stretched to about four hours, despite the council desperately replenishing sandbag stocks overnight and opening new do-it-yourself depots after every Brisbane site ran out yesterday.
"In the last 24 hours there's an unprecedented 74,000 sandbags distributed by Brisbane City Council. Now that has never happened before, to that extent," Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said.
Gold Coast acting Mayor Donna Gates said the city was expected to be among the worst-hit areas if Alfred made landfall as predicted.
"It's not a good outcome for the Gold Coast," she said.
A voluntary evacuation was issued for South Stradbroke Island and authorities started doorknocking, with about 20 families evacuated.
Thursday night's AFL season opener between the Brisbane Lions and Geelong Cats at the Gabba was postponed, along with Saturday's Suns and Essendon game at Carrara.
The NRL moved Friday night's clash between the Dolphins and Rabbitohs from Suncorp Stadium to Sydney.
Green Day's Gold Coast concert, the WPGA event and the Boardriders Battle surfing contest were also cancelled.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who arrived in Brisbane tonight, refused to say if Alfred's impending arrival would impact when he would call the 2025 federal election.
Brisbane's port and ferries were closed ahead of the storm's arrival.
Virgin Australia is allowing travellers to cancel or move domestic flights in and out of south-east Queensland or northern NSW between today and Saturday.
Qantas was offering the same flexibility for passengers on flights booked to and from Ballina, Brisbane, Bundaberg, Hervey Bay, Gold Coast or Maroochydore for dates between now and Sunday, so long as they were booked yesterday or earlier.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said Queenslanders should be preparing for the worst, adding it would be an "anxious wait" and a "difficult week".
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