Millions of Queenslanders are being told to prepare amid warnings of the first cyclone to cross the state’s southern coast in half a century.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred could make landfall in South East Queensland by Thursday as a Category 2 system.

BOM Senior Meteorologist Dean Narramore told Sofie Formica on 4BC Afternoons, "At this stage, it could go north or south, crossing the coast around that Redcliffe northern suburbs Caboolture area of Brisbane on Thursday night into the early hours of Friday morning.

"Now, don't get too hung up on exactly where it crosses because the impacts will be wide ranging with the worst of the wind and rain conditions near and well to the south of where Topical Cyclone Alfred does cross Thursday," Mr Narramore continued. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.