Thousands of residents in Australia's east were ordered to evacuate ahead of Tropical Cyclone Alfred's landfall on Saturday as the storm brought heavy rains, huge waves and strong winds that cut off power,

Residents in parts of northern NSW are being warned they could face almost a week of heavy rain and flooding as Tropical Cyclone Alfred nears the coast.

Four million people are in the firing line of Cyclone Alfred. It's expected to hit between the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast - a stretch of Australia known for its beautiful beaches and top surf – as well as Brisbane, Australia's third-biggest city.