Tropical Cyclone Jasper has been upgraded to a category four storm overnight as it makes its slow approach to the Queensland coast.
While the cyclone’s path remains uncertain, areas from Cooktown to Mackay – including Cairns and Townsville – remain on alert.
Stay up-to-date on the latest news with The Queensland Briefing – keeping you in the loop with news as it hits:
As of 4am on Friday, the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) said Cyclone Jasper was located about 1250km east northeast of Cairns and is moving to the south through the northeast of the Coral Sea.
It’s expected Cyclone Jasper will weaken over the weekend as it turns on a westward track towards the Queensland coast.
The BOM said: “as Jasper approaches the coast there is a risk of re-intensification and the potential for severe impacts”.
However, it also said should Cyclone Jasper cross land, its “expected to weaken”.
Meanwhile, four BOM staff located on a remote Coral Sea Island will be evacuated as Cyclone Jasper threatens to directly hit.
The staff live and work on the tiny Willis Island, maintaining a remote and crucial weather station.
While the island has been inhabited by Bom staff since 1921, crucially monitoring storms like cyclones, it could potentially become a victim of one.
“The safety and wellbeing of our staff members is of absolute priority,” the BOM said in a statement to the Courier Mail.
“We are monitoring the situation closely and have plans in place to evacuate staff via helicopter well before severe Tropical Cyclone Jasper presents any risk to the island.”
Stay up-to-date on the latest news with The Queensland Briefing – keeping you in the loop with news as it hits:
A seven-day forecast tracker map of the cyclone’s movements can be found here.
To stay up-to-date with the latest information on Cyclone Jasper, visit the Bureau of Meteorology website.