Residents in low-lying parts of north-east NSW are being urged to act now as they brace for “three natural disaster events in one” when Tropical Cyclone Alfred makes landfall in the early hours of Friday morning.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred could impact a heavily-populated area extending from Bundaberg to south of the Queensland border.

More than 4 million people are in the firing line of Tropical Cyclone Alfred as it tracks towards the south-east Queensland and northern NSW coast. About 20,000 homes in Brisbane alone are at risk of storm surge and flooding impacts associated with the system.

Northern New South Wales is bracing for impact with fears Tropical Cyclone Alfred could smash the coast as a category 3 system, as flights have been ditched, schools shut their doors and residents batten down the hatches.

Here is your ongoing list of bands and artists cancelling gigs as South-East Queensland braces for Cyclone Alfred.

Alfred's intensity may fluctuate in the coming days, but it is expected to make landfall at category 2 strength late Thursday or early Friday morning. It will be the first time the south-east has been in the direct firing line of a tropical cyclone in several decades.

Brisbane, Australia hasn't had a direct cyclone landfall in 35 years. Officials warn that Cyclone Alfred could be one of the most destructive storms in decades. Meteorologist Laura Power has all the details.

In Brisbane, preparations are well underway for the arrival of tropical Cyclone Alfred. The category two system is expected to cross the coast near Brisbane late on Thursday or early Friday. Among those in the midst of preparations is Nadine Ramsey from the State Emergency Service in Brisbane and she says Queenslanders are also getting ready for what's ahead.