Meteorologist shares the safest place to seek shelter from Cyclone Alfred

Emergency services are on edge as Cyclone Alfred threatens to bring destructive winds, torrential rain and a storm surge later this week.

A tropical cyclone hitting Queensland's most populated areas in the south-east hasn't happened in 50 years.

From tonight, Brisbane will be a ghost town, as schools and daycares close tomorrow and all public transport goes offline tonight.

READ MORE: Three years on from devastating floods, Lismore is preparing to face Cyclone Alfred

Places that don't usually flood, like Biggera Waters on the Gold Coast, are also expected to be inundated.

Across the border in Lismore, businesses are preparing for the worst, terrified of a repeat of their flood disaster three years ago.

Cyclone and flood refuge centres will open across Brisbane from tomorrow morning, as police urge residents in high-risk areas to pack up and leave.

With 4 million people in the firing line, authorities are themselves bracing as the category 2 storm edges closer to the coast.

Higgins Storm Chasing meteorologist Thomas Hinterdorfer said Queenslanders who choose to stay should look for the strongest part of their home to take shelter.

"Anywhere from the most interior room in your house, to a bathroom and ideally with a mattress over you, it's just that little bit of extra protection," he said.

"Try to stay away from windows and doors that could obviously break or blow in."

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