A sodden day awaits southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales in the fallout of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, with alerts out for potential flooding.

But while authorities have been warning residents to stay indoors as Cyclone Alfred approaches, die-hard surfers have been throwing caution to the increasing wind. "This is what we look forward to," said Jeff Weatherall as he waited for a jet ski to pick him up from Kirra beach and carry him into the big waves.