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Tens of thousands of people are without power across south-east Queensland and northern NSW and thousands more have been ordered to evacuate as Cyclone Alfred inches its way towards the coast.
Damaging 120km/h wind gusts were already developing between Moreton Island and Byron Bay on Thursday night, potentially 24 hours or more before the historic storm's predicted landfall.
Thousands of people in Lismore and other flood-prone parts of Northern NSW were ordered to evacuate amid forecasts flooding would cut off their escape routes.
AS IT HAPPENED: Cyclone Alfred starting to be felt, first evacuations ordered
NSW Premier Chris Minns said there may not be enough boats for every house in the flood evacuation zone if they remain.
"Those communities, if they remain in the area, they become trapped, they may be without power, water and other essential services for an extended period of time," he said.
"We're forecasting very heavy rain and, in the event of that, evacuation routes may be closed."
At 10pm (11pm AEDT) on Thursday, Alfred was 245 kilometres east of Brisbane – further from the coast than three hours previously – and once again crawling towards land. It was described as "slow moving" after being clocked at just 6km/h earlier in the night.
Its slow pace, coupled with those unexpected loops in its path on Thursday and Wednesday nights, blew out forecasters' predictions about landfall for the southernmost cyclone to hit Australia in 50 years.
The Bureau of Meteorology said it was expected to cross the coast Friday night or even early Saturday morning, as a category 2 storm, with destructive 155km/h winds to be felt near the core throughout Friday.
READ MORE: Flights cancelled as Cyclone Alfred approaches Queensland coast
Concerns will then immediately turn to clean-up and flooding, with daily rainfall of 350 to 450 millimetres predicted near and south of the core.
More than 20 evacuation orders were made throughout Thursday afternoon and evening in northern NSW, affecting Lismore and parts of Port Macquarie, Kyogle, Tumbelgum, Coraki and other towns.
Thousands of residents were in the flood zone in Lismore alone, with the south, north, CBD and part of the east at risk of going under or being cut off.
In Port Macquarie, residents near the Hastings River along North Shore, Settlement Point and Hastings River and Hibbard drives were given until 1am to leave.
Parts of Billinudgel, Fingal Head, Uki, Bowraville and Macksville were also under the emergency warning.
The whole Northern Rivers was under a blanket warning to stay inside.
CHECK THE LATEST WARNINGS AND EVACUATION ORDERS FROM THE SES
By 9.30pm on Thursday, more than 27,000 people were out power, with more expected to follow, from the southern Moreton Bay islands south past Port Macquarie in NSW.
The Gold Coast, particularly Coolangatta, were the worst hit in Queensland, with Cabarita Beach, Broken head and several suburbs inland of Tweed Heads among the worst affected south of the border.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said the impact would be felt by everyone in the south-east in some way.
READ MORE: Supermarket giants reveal cyclone store closures
"Everyone will have some level of impact but I really believe that people have overwhelmingly done the little things right," he said.
"I know we spent a lot of time preparing. We've prepositioned everything from generators to staff and I think Queenslanders have responded really, really well.
"I've got every faith we'll get through this if we just stay connected, keep doing the right things and we'll come through the other end."
More than 1000 schools were closed on Thursday and into Friday public transport was cancelled across south-east Queensland.
The last passenger flight into Brisbane arrived at 3.35pm, with no timetable for flights to resume.
The Brisbane Broncos, who smashed the Roosters in an NRL clash relocated to Sydney were forced to charter a flight and organise a police escort to whisk them home.
The plane was due to land in Toowoomba, leaving players and staff to take a bus back to their families in the capital.
Earlier on Thursday, Gold Coasters given the day off school flocked to the beach to watch surfers assisted with jet skis try their luck with massive barrelling waves on what turned out to be an otherwise fairly calm morning on land.
Main Beach on the Gold Coast recorded a monster swell topping 12.3 metres overnight, which Crisafulli described as the "highest ever recorded".
The crowds and daredevils sparked a warning from police of $16,000 fines for anyone who refused to get out of the ocean.
Footage of residents struggling in water emerged after the region saw tidal surges from cyclonic winds.
Lifesavers this morning witnessed a "large number of near misses" where people standing close to the shore were forced to flee from a rush of water sweeping in, Surf Life Saving Queensland lifesaving services manager Natalie Edwards said.
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