Tropical cyclone Jasper grows in strength and moves towards Australia – see where ground zero is predicted on our coastline

The tropical cyclone sweeping the Australian coastline has reached Category 2 strength and could reach Category 4 on Thursday.

The 'unusual' tropical cyclone, named Jasper, is developing over the Solomon Sea and is expected to cross the Queensland coast early next week, the Bureau of Meteorology said.

“Overall, we expect the storm to continue to develop this week and likely reach severe tropical cyclone category strength,” an agency spokesperson said Wednesday.

Jasper is not only the first tropical cyclone of the season, but it is also believed to be the first to emerge off the coast of Australia during an El Nino in December.

“It's rare to see a cyclone in December, let alone one where we do have El Nino,” the agency spokesperson said.

'It's unusual to see this. There aren't that many cyclones we've seen in the entire month of December, let alone early December.”

The track of Cyclone Jasper, currently over the Solomon Islands, as predicted by weather models; The system is likely to hit the Queensland coast near Mackay early next week

The cyclone is likely to be a Category 4 when it makes landfall, bringing strong winds and rain

Record temperatures are on the horizon in other states as a scorching heat wave threatens to push the mercury above 40 degrees Celsius.

A band of high intensity over central and northern Australia will bring extreme temperatures to many outback regions this week, stretching into south-east Queensland.

Maximum temperatures are expected in around a third of the country, with the weather expected to reach a sweltering 44 degrees Celsius or higher in some parts on Thursday.

Parts of Western Australia and South Australia on their shared border will see temperatures reach around 45 degrees Celsius on Wednesday.

The high pressure system over central and northern Australia will push the mercury higher in parts of South Australia this week.

In Queensland, Cyclone Jasper may be moving towards the coast as it moves south-southwest through the Coral Sea.

However, the agency was unsure which parts of the state would be affected by the system.

“There are a few different ways it could play out as it moves,” the agency said.

'There is still a degree of uncertainty about where exactly on the Queensland coast this could be most impacted.

The tropical cyclone (photo) has been upgraded to Category 2 and will strengthen in the coming days

“It's quite a slow process at the moment, in some ways it gives people time to prepare. “It's to people's benefit to have some time to prepare for this cyclone approaching the Queensland coast.”

Recent models suggest Jasper could be approaching the Queensland coast between Cooktown and Mackay, in the state's north.

“Other possible outcomes include a more southerly track, moving the system towards the Queensland coast south of Mackay, or a slow-moving system remaining over the Coral Sea for longer than the next seven days,” the agency said.

Even if Jasper does not arrive in Queensland as a cyclone, the state could still be hit by high winds and heavy rain.

“It looks broadly likely to move near the Queensland coast, bringing at least some windier conditions and some increased rainfall along parts of the Queensland coast,” the agency said.

“Even if it is no longer a cyclone or a weakened cyclone, we could still see heavy rainfall and ocean impacts such as storm surges and storm surges, regardless of its strength.”

Queensland and the Northern Territory are in for a wet week, while WA and SA are experiencing heatwaves