The outer bands of Tropical Cyclone Alfred are lashing Australia’s east coast with wind and rain as the rare southerly storm’s eye inches closer to landfall expected on Saturday morning.

Tropical cyclone Alfred is a reminder that powerful storms have the power to show up in some surprising places.

Part of Australia’s east coast has been lashed by wind and rain ahead of its first tropical cyclone in 51 years

Very dangerous” thunderstorm warnings have been issued for parts of Queensland as ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred caused widespread flooding and power outages.

Tropical cyclone Garance made landfall on the French Indian Ocean territory of Réunion on Friday, packing gusts of 166 kilometers (103 miles) per hour.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred is expected to make landfall in Brisbane on late Friday or early Saturday, causing several ships from Carnival, Royal Caribbean and others to stay far from the area until the storm passes.