That’s a wrap – thank you for reading the Need to Know blog today. These were some of the main stories:

• Locals welcome extra cyclone preparation time: Brisbane locals have welcomed the extra time to prepare after learning Cyclone Alfred will make landfall a day later than expected.

• Cyclone now expected early Saturday morning: Queensland Premier David Crisafulli says he has just been told by the Bureau of Meteorology that Cyclone Alfred could now make landfall early Saturday morning, but it is still unknown exactly where and when it will hit.

• Cyclone behaving like ‘unwanted house guest’: NSW Premier Chris Minns says Cyclone Alfred is behaving like “a completely unwanted house guest” as it slows in its approach to the coast.

• PM says cyclone slow up increases its intensity: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the cyclone slowing up poses a risk it “increases in its intensity” but it is still only a category 2 at this stage.

• Virgin to operate Brisbane flights until 4pm: Virgin Australia says it will operate limited flights to and from Brisbane on Thursday until 4pm (AEDT).

• Gold Coast records highest wave ever at 12.3m: Queensland Premier David Crisafulli says Gold Coast’s Main Beach has recorded its highest wave ever at 12.3 metres.

• Chalmers predicts billions in damage from cyclone: Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the government is expecting billions of dollars of damage as 1.8 million homes are in the cyclone’s firing line.