Currently, Alfred is about 850km north-east of Mackay and 1000km north-east of Rockhampton, in the Coral Sea.

Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Jonathan How said there was “high confidence” the cyclone would remain well offshore in the next two days.

“Beyond this, there are still a range of scenarios that could still play out,” he said.

How said it was possible the cyclone could approach the Queensland coast, or that it might stay well offshore.

Regardless, the Queensland coast is already feeling the effects of the storm.

Alfred now has winds of up to 130km/hr at its centre, with gusts of up to 185km/hr, and is slowly moving in a south to south-east direction.

A strong wind warning is in place along the coast from Townsville to K’gari.

Large waves of two to three metres, and easterly swell of the same height, are expected along the same stretch of coast, with “large and powerful” surf conditions.

This will make coastal activities such as rock fishing dangerous, How said.