Coastal communities are bracing for severe erosion and tidal surges as the weather system intensifies. South East Queensland beaches are closed, but that hasn't stopped some from venturing out into the cyclonic swell.

Queensland officials are scrambling to draw up contingency plans for race meetings this week, with the state’s southeast in the firing line of Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

Cruise ships have been rerouted away from the south-east Queensland coast as Tropical Cyclone Alfred intensifies, causing high tides and potentially hazardous swells around the Port of Brisbane.

WA will extend assistance to Queensland in the event of any damage caused by Tropical Cyclone Alfred, Roger Cook says, even by accepting any offer to host AFL games instead of Brisbane.

Queensland's bracing for Cyclone Alfred to hit later this week. It's been upgraded to category two overnight, and is brewing off the Australian coast, where it's already causing heavy surf and high tides.