There is no threat to Samoa from Tropical Cyclone Jasper which is expected to intensify to a category five storm, says the Samoa Meteorological Service.

The weather office posted a statement on Thursday with the assurance to the public that Tropical Cyclone Jasper poses no threat to Samoa.

According to the latest update from the Samoa Meteorological Service, Cyclone Jasper continues to move southwestward towards the eastern coast of North Queensland while maintaining its further development trend.

 However, the weather office has forecasted rain for the coming weekend and said it will keep the public updated.

 The Guardian reports that Tropical Cyclone Jasper has been upgraded to a category 3 system and is expected to strengthen further as it moves towards the Queensland coast.

 Jasper is expected to strengthen further to become a high end category 4 on Thursday night and “possibly” category five on Friday, the Bureau of Meteorology said in its latest forecast.

 Over the weekend Jasper is expected to weaken but is “highly likely” to remain a tropical cyclone for the next week.

 The “unusual” system tracked south-southwest into the Coral Sea overnight, and is expected to “turn towards the west this weekend towards the north Queensland coast”.

 While the “timing and severity of a coastal impact remains highly uncertain”, the bureau’s seven day forecast “shows the highest risk of Jasper moving onto the coast between Cooktown and Mackay from late Monday onwards,”