Damaging surf and high tides as cyclone spirals closer

Residents along much of Queensland's coast are being warned of wild weekend weather. (HANDOUT/Sylvia Liber)

Powerful waves could cause floods and coastal erosion as a tropical cyclone narrows on Queensland's coast, but the category three system is unlikely to reach the mainland.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred was roughly 700km northeast of Mackay on Friday and producing wind gusts of 220km/h at its centre.