The storm reached the Queensland coast on Saturday as a "tropical low" after 16 days as a cyclone, prompting preparations by millions of residents.

Significant damage and power outages are possible in the densely populated region of Queensland, where tropical cyclones impacts are not uncommon but direct landfalls are.

Ex-cyclone Alfred crossed the islands off the coast of Queensland as a category one system early on Saturday morning, but it has now been downgraded to a tropical low and is moving slowly north. Alfred is currently sitting off Bribie Island and is expected to cross the mainland coast between Maroochydore and Bribie Island during the morning.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred had been expected to become the first cyclone to cross the Australian coast near the Queensland state capital of Brisbane, Australia’s third-most populous city, since 1974

Tropical Cyclone Alfred had been expected to become on Saturday the first cyclone to cross the east Australian coast near the Queensland state capital since 1974. But it weakened early Saturday to a tropical low,