Tropical Cyclone Oma is the first cyclone in almost three decades threatening to strike Brisbane but meteorologists expect it to turn away at the last minute.
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The last cyclone to reach Brisbane was Cyclone Nancy in 1990, which grazed the Byron Bay coast and resulted in coastal erosion and flooding.
At 5am on Thursday, TC Oma was about 900 kilometres north-east of Brisbane in the Coral Sea. In the 24 hours since 5am Wednesday, it had moved 220 kilometres towards the mainland.
The category 2 system was expected to move south-west in coming days and generate big swells on southern Queensland beaches, which will combine with king tides.
A hazardous surf warning remained in place for the Capricornia Coast, Hervey Bay, Fraser Island Coast, Sunshine Coast Waters, Moreton Bay and Gold Coast Waters.
"Dangerous surf conditions are forecast to develop about the east coast of Fraser Island and Wide Bay coast north of Bargara later this afternoon and evening," BoM warned on Thursday.
"These conditions are then expected to extend south over the remaining south-eastern Queensland coast during this evening and Friday.
"Beach erosion is likely to continue with the hazardous marine conditions.
"Water levels on the high tide may exceed the highest tide of the year by around one metre on the morning high tides on Thursday and Friday.
"Locations which may be affected include Gold Coast, Maroochydore, Moreton Island, Noosa Heads, Caloundra and Rainbow Beach."
A flood watch has been issued for coastal catchments and inland areas between Gladstone and the NSW border, with major flooding possible during the weekend and early next week.
Excavators and boulder-laden trucks were hard at work on the Gold Coast on Wednesday building a seawall to protect the coastline.
Police warned swimmers and boaties to stay out of the surf, with TC Oma expected to whip up towering waves and ferocious winds in coming days.
Water police Sergeant Jay Bairstow said predicted eight-metre waves and 110km/h winds were deadly hazards for beachgoers.
Cyclone Oma weakened to a category 2 storm on Wednesday while it continued to move towards the south-east Queensland coast, bringing damaging winds and heavy rainfall.
A combination of a king tide and the powerful swell created by the cyclone flooded low-lying streets on the Gold Coast and Brisbane.
Meteorologist Adam Blazak said TC Oma had increased king tides on the Gold Coast by 15 centimetres and Sunshine Coast tidal heights by 10-15 centimetres.
On Tuesday, a driver was caught out taking on the big swell at Rainbow Beach, north of the Sunshine Coast, and was forced to abandon a ute, leaving it at the mercy of the pounding waves.
A woman swimming in a natural pool in Noosa National Park was dumped on rocks by a freak wave on Monday and had to be winched to safety by a rescue helicopter.
The swimmer, aged in her 20s, was flown to Sunshine Coast University Hospital in a stable condition.
Gold Coast council took precautions on Tuesday ahead of the cyclone's arrival by pulling down coastal fencing and a beach shower.
