Millions of residents along Australia’s eastern coast are bracing for the arrival of a very slow-moving storm, the strongest tropical cyclone to threaten the region in more than 50 years. Tropical Cyclone Alfred is expected to make landfall early Saturday with the strength of an Atlantic tropical storm.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred is predicted to hit the mainland north of Brisbane's CBD around midday on Saturday, leading to significant rainfall over a 48-hour period.

Australia braced for a rare east coast tropical cyclone that is swirling towards Brisbane, its third-most populous city, with authorities urging residents in flood-prone suburbs to evacuate soon.