A tropical cyclone is bearing down on parts of the Australian coast that were last impacted by such a storm more than 50 years ago. 

Tropical Cyclone Alfred is expected to cross between the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane on Thursday as a category one or two system.

Zoe was the last tropical cyclone to cross the South East Queensland coast in 1974.

"It's not impossible; it is unusual, and it's important that people be ready for it," Premier David Crisafulli told ABC Radio Brisbane on Monday.

Alfred is currently a category-two system sitting in the Coral Sea, about 465km northeast of Brisbane, and is heading southeast.

The winds at the centre of the cyclone are 95 km/h, with gusts of up to 130 km/h.

Residents in the two states have been told to prepare for Tropical Cyclone Alfred to hit within coming days, with wild weather expected to smash coastal communities.

The category two system is expected to make landfall on Thursday somewhere between Bundaberg in Queensland and northern NSW, but the weather bureau says it's hard to pinpoint exactly when or where it will cross the coast.

Cyclones are rare in that part of Australia, and authorities in both states have urged residents to be prepared, including having tinned food, making an emergency kit, and clearing debris from properties.

Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Sarah Scully said the effects will be felt much further away than where the cyclone makes landfall.

"(It) would include things like damaging to destructive winds, heavy to intense rainfall that may lead to life-threatening flash flooding and coastal inundation or inundation of low-lying areas," she said.

Weather bureau meteorologists have predicted gale force winds could develop by Tuesday and daily rainfall totals may be between 300-600mm. 

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli urged residents in the state's southeast to do "everything they can" before the cyclone makes landfall and stay vigilant.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner urged residents to clean up their yards and secure loose items.

"A cyclone in Brisbane is something many of us have never experienced before so getting prepared now is the only way to ensure your home, pets and loved ones stay safe," he said.

Residents have been told to pay attention to warnings and directions to leave.

"If major flooding occurs, people may be asked to evacuate their homes," NSW SES Assistant Commissioner Dean Storey said.

The cyclone was 370km northeast of Bundaberg on Sunday afternoon.

It's expected to shift southeast before swinging west on Tuesday.

Destructive winds, coastal inundation and heavy to intense rainfall are expected to be largely felt on the southern side of the cyclone.

With AAP