Millions in eastern Australia are bracing for Tropical Cyclone Alfred, the most southerly cyclone to threaten the region in over 50 years.

Expected to make landfall near Brisbane early Friday, the storm could bring major flooding, storm surges, and coastal erosion from Queensland’s Gold Coast to northern New South Wales.

Authorities warn that up to 20,000 properties in Brisbane may be affected, and evacuations have been urged for vulnerable coastal areas, CNN has reported.

Schools are closing, major events are canceled, and residents are preparing for destructive winds and dangerous surf.

Written by B.C. Begley