Tropical Cyclone Jasper strengthened over the Coral Sea on Wednesday. At 10:00 p.m. EST on Wednesday the center of Tropical Cyclone Jasper was located at latitude 12.3°S and longitude 156.8°E which put it about 805 miles (1300 km) east-northeast of Cairns, Australia. Jasper was moving toward the southwest at 5 m.p.h. (8 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 100 m.p.h. (160 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 120 m.p.h. (195 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 967 mb.

Tropical Cyclone Jasper strengthened steadily on Wednesday as it moved slowly over the Coral Sea. An eye appeared intermittently at the center of Jasper’s circulation on satellite images. A broken ring of thunderstorms surrounded the intermittent eye and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Jasper’s circulation. Storms near the center generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical cyclone. The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease.

The size of the circulation around Tropical Cyclone Jasper increased on Wednesday. Winds to hurricane/typhoon force extended out 60 miles (95 km) from the center of Jasper’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 170 miles (275 km) from the center of circulation.

Tropical Cyclone Jasper will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Jasper will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C. It will move under the western part of the axis of an upper level ridge over the South Pacific Ocean. The upper level winds are ridge weak near the axis of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear. Tropical Cyclone Jasper will intensify during the next 24 hours. Jasper will very likely strengthen to the equivalent of a major hurricane.

Tropical Cyclone Jasper will move around the northern part of a high pressure system over the South Pacific Ocean east of Australia. The high pressure system will steer Jasper toward the southwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Cyclone Jasper will move slowly toward Australia. Jasper could approach the coast of Queensland in a few days.