Category 2 tropical Cyclone Alfred is sweeping Australia.

A rare weather phenomenon is heading towards the Australian city of Brisbane, as the country's eastern coast is preparing for torrential rain, destructive winds, and storm surges. Cyclone Alfred is now forecast to make landfall early on Saturday, after its progress towards the coast has dramatically slowed.

The Independent reported that the storm was 240km east of Brisbane and slowly moving west on Thursday, March 6, with winds near the centre of the cyclone already reaching 80mph.

Thousands of homes have already lost power due to high winds, and Brisbane Airport has been closed, with hundreds of flights suspended. Hospitals are limiting procedures and supermarkets have been ravaged as people prepare for the extreme weather event.

Although the category 2 storm (meaning winds generally range between 96-110 mph) has slowed, this may cause an even worse impact to the coast as it means prolonged rainfall and longer effects of the storm.

But as Australia braces for impact, what exactly is a cyclone and how is it formed?

What is a cyclone?

BBC Bitesize explains the difference between a cyclone, a typhoon and a hurricane.

Their website says: "Tropical cyclones are powerful spinning storms. Depending on where in the world they form, they have different names. Tropical cyclones that form in the Caribbean or North American region are known as hurricanes.

"Those that form in the Far East, close to places like China and Japan are known as typhoons and those that form in the Indian Ocean are called cyclones.

"If a tropical cyclone forms above, or north of the equator, it spins in an anti-clockwise direction. If it forms below, or south of the equator, it spins in a clockwise direction. This is all because of the way the Earth turns on its axis."

How is a cyclone formed?

Tropical cyclones, such as Alfred build in strength as they move over the ocean as the air above the warm water acts as a ‘fuel’. While this air warms and rises, it is replaced by new air again and again, creating the cycles of the storm.