Severe Tropical Cyclone Alfred has intensified into a category four system but the latest modelling suggests the chance of it making landfall has decreased, according to the BOM.

Uncertainty lingers over whether Tropical Cyclone Alfred will make landfall in Queensland after it strengthened to a "severe" category three storm overnight. Currently, Alfred is about 850km north-east of Mackay and 1000km north-east of Rockhampton,

Evacuation from a popular tourism destination in Australia's Queensland state began on Thursday as Tropical Cyclone Alfred has intensified into a category three system, public broadcaster ABC reported.

The cyclone is expected to keep offshore well into next week but communities along the coast from central Queensland south are preparing for the worst.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Alfred has strengthened to a Category 3 storm and its path is becoming clearer — with Queensland residents warned to stay alert for updates. Alfred is slowly moving south through the Coral Sea and is forecast to continue to move generally south while slowly strengthening.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred is a high probability of crossing one of the most highly populated stretches of the Queensland coast by early next week.

Whether it crosses the Queensland coast or curls away from the mainland, Tropical Cyclone Alfred will make its presence felt in the south-east.

The weather system is sitting about 910 kilometres north-east of Cairns and is forecast to reach category three by Tuesday.

Alfred was a tropical cyclone in the Coral Sea Tuesday morning Eastern time, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center said in its latest advisory. The tropical cyclone had sustained wind speeds of 86 miles per hour,

A tropical cyclone is set to intensify as it looms off Australia's coast, with a tracking model predicting a direct hit on one state in the coming days.

Sky News Australia Meteorologist Alison Osborne has examined how Tropical Cyclone Alfred is currently tracking as it travels off the Queensland coast.