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Tropical cyclone Oma is continuing its slow, steady course towards Australia's east coast.

The fierce category two storm is not expected to cross the coast in the next few days but it will come close enough for winds to lash the coast in south-east Queensland and far northern New South Wales.

Large swells coinciding with king tides are expected to cause erosion, and communities from Bundaberg in Queensland, south to Ballina in NSW, are under a cyclone watch.

Surf forecaster Ben Macartney, of Coastalwatch, told the Courier Mail it was 'easily' Queensland's 'most severe erosion event in decades', warning some of the state's most popular beaches were in serious danger.

'It's going to get more chaotic and there will be a lot of water movement and damage to the coastline,' he said, with huge swells of up to eight metres expected to pound the coastline into the weekend.  

Cyclone Oma is edging towards to Australia's east coast. Locals (pictured at Snapper Rocks, Gold Coast) were more interested in the monster swells than the prospect of a devastating storm hitting the coastline 

The Bureau of Meteorology warned south-east Queensland residents to be aware of current warnings amid the dangerous conditions

The fierce category two storm will come close enough for winds to lash the coast in south-east Queensland and far northern New South Wales

A hazardous surf warning is in place from the Capricornia Coast right down to the New South Wales border 750km away, with huge swells of up to eight metres and abnormally high tides set to pummel the coast in the coming days.

The dangerous conditions and warnings to stay out of the water haven't fazed surfers, who were pictured tackling incredible waves on Thursday.

The Bureau of Meteorology warned south-east Queensland residents to be aware of current warnings amid the dangerous conditions.

Their warning was extended to parts of northern New South Wales, coastal communities from Bundaberg to Ballina, on Thursday evening after four to six metre waves were recorded offshore of North Stradroke Island.

The NSW Mid North Coast was hit by severe thunderstorms on Thursday afternoon and Port Macquaries Airport recorded around 19 milimetres of rain - its highest amount of rainfall in two months. 

Despite forecasters anticipating the thunderstorms will subside on Friday, high tides across the coast will stay constant, Nine News reported.  

Two women appeared dangerously close to the giant waves on Thursday afternoon

A hazardous surf warning is in place from the Capricornia Coast right down to the New South Wales border. Surfers were undeterred by the powerful waves on Thursday afternoon  

The unreal conditions saw dozens of surfers and spectators head out to take in the sights. While the brave few jumped in the water, many chose to watch on from the safety of the shore

'Surf and swell conditions will be hazardous for coastal activities such as rock fishing, boating, swimming and many beaches are already closed for public safety,' Queensland State Manager Bruce Gunn said. 

'Gale force winds are possible for exposed coastal beaches, combined with heavy rainfall,' Mr Gunn said.

'The bureau has issued a flood watch from Gladstone to the NSW border. Forecast rainfall totals are largely dependent on the cyclone track and there are still a wide range of scenarios at this point.'

Queenslanders have been told to brace for flooding, dangerous waves and winds up to 130km/h as the storms moves towards the east coast.

Pictures shared to Twitter showed the wrath of the storm on Thursday, with some residents forced to clean up smashed windows at a building close to the ocean. 

Pictures shared to Twitter showed the wrath of the storm on Thursday, with some residents forced to clean up smashed windows at a building close to the ocean

This young lad was ripping up the waves, snaking a bunch of others as he dominated the water

Queenslanders have been told to brace for flooding, dangerous waves and winds up to 130km/h as the storms moves towards the east coast

An eerie shot of a lone surfer in the water at Snapper Rocks on Thursday, with others waiting for waves in the background 

'Windows have been removed from Rick Shores in Burleigh, with large swell from Cyclone Oma,' the Twitter update said. 

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Adam Blazak said there was still disagreement about which path the storm will take, but there was a possibility it could make landfall at the weekend. 

'On Friday, we will see an increase in wind strength and we are expecting heavy rain across the weekend,' he said.

Late on Thursday Oma was about 820km northeast of Brisbane, packing wind gusts of up to 130km/h.

The storm system is likely to keep heading slowly towards southeast Queensland on Friday with category two intensity.

But Oma could slow on Saturday and change course to a more north or northwest direction.

'Although Oma is not expected to make landfall in the coming days it will be close enough to produce direct impacts along the Queensland and NSW coast,' the bureau has warned.

'Gale force winds are expected to develop along exposed coastal areas of southern Queensland during Friday, well ahead of Oma, and may extend into coastal parts of northern NSW on Saturday.'

Water levels on the morning high tide may exceed the highest tide of the year by around one metre over the next few days.

People in the cyclone watch zone have been urged to think about what preparations they might need to make if the cyclone threat increases. 

Surfers were keen to have a crack at the treacherous conditions at Snapper Rock on the Gold Coast on Thursday 

This surfer found himself airborne while taking on monster swells at Duranbah, NSW's northernmost beach on Thursday

The dangerous surf conditions have been created by Cyclone Oma, which is set to smash the Queensland coast this weekend

Dozens of surfers flocked to Snapper Rock on the Gold Coast and Duranbah, NSW's northernmost beach on Thursday to risk their lives and have a crack at the massive swells of up to six metres. 

Surf Lifesaving Queensland closed a number of beaches on the Gold and Sunshine coasts on Thursday, with more expected to be shut.

'Blanket beach closures are likely to be in effect for at least three to four days,' its Facebook page stated on Thursday morning.

'Lifeguards and lifesavers are advising the public to avoid the beach this weekend.' 

Hazardous surf conditions at Snapper Rock on Thursday were even challenging for the most experienced surfer

The dangerous surf conditions on Thursday are set to become worse in the coming days with swells of up to eight metres

Even photographers risked their lives to capture the crazy surf conditions along Queensland south-east coast

 Surf Lifesaving Queensland closed a number of beaches on the Gold and Sunshine coasts on Thursday

Queensland beachgoers have been warned by weather forecasters to stay out of the water and dangerous swells

The worst effects are expected to be galeforce winds, high swells that could erode beaches, and the possibility of heavy rain

The weather system was already bringing hazardous surf conditions and abnormally high tides

Southeast Queensland is being urged to batten down the hatches as the highly-unpredictable Cyclone Oma powers towards the coast

Strong waves brought on by incoming Cyclone Oma nearly completely submerged this vehicle at Rainbow Beach on Wednesday

There are more than a dozen possible paths the system could take, with Brisbane and the Gold Coast potentially right in the firing line 

Flood water is seen covering a street on the Gold Coast in a picture taken on Wednesday