Queensland braces for heatwave
Residents across Queensland are bracing for a scorcher of a weekend, with the mercury predicted to soar past 40 degrees Celsius in some parts.
The Bureau of Meteorology is warning of a widespread, severe heatwave expected to affect large parts of inland Australia from Thursday and continuing through the weekend.
The Bureau's Queensland Weather Services Manager, Richard Wardle says the highest temperatures are likely to affect Southern Queensland, and push north-west.
"We're mainly expecting the districts of the Channel Country and Warrego to be affected, so towns like Birdsville, Thargomindah and Cunnamulla."
Temperatures in the south-east are expected to be 4 degrees above average with temperatures reaching into the 30's expected across parts.
Mr Wardle says the temperature will remain high over inland Queensland until about Wednesday next week.
Coastal areas should prepare for a maximum of 32 degrees across the weekend while Ipswich, west of Brisbane is forecast to reach 37 degrees on Tuesday before cooling.
For advice on preparation and staying well, visit our heatwave information page on the ABC Emergency site.
Mr Wardle says the early season heat is being caused by a large, hot air mass from northern Australia is being drawn southeastwards by a slow-moving, low pressure trough.
"Excessive heat is moving slowly eastwards, driving up temperatures in central, southern and eastern Australia," he says.
According to Mr Wardle, Cunnamulla's hottest day on record could be broken if temperatures soar into the 40's.
"The highest ever recorded there was 43.9, and that was in November 1965...we are expecting in excess of 40, as high as the mid 40's, so we could be looking at 45 [degrees]."
Mr Wardle says residents should take heed of the warnings and follow advice from emergency services.
"When we experience days of excessive heat, that's when people can suffer from heat stress."
"Stay hydrated, look after yourself and your neighbours."
There are more tips about how to stay safe during a heatwave at our emergency page including:
- Keep a watch of elderly relatives or neighbours regularly
- Talk to friends and neighbours and make sure they know the heatwave is coming and what to do.
- Watch for signs of distress among people on the street.
The Queensland Ambulance Service say residents should be aware of heat-related illness.
"Past experience has shown an increase in temperature could mean an increase in heat-related cases for the ambulance service," said Chris Broomfield, QAS Sunshine Coast Local Ambulance Service Network Assistant Commissioner.
"Signs of heat exhaustion include; flushed or pale skin, cramps, nausea, headache, dizziness, disorientation, drowsiness, fainting or collapse.
Risk of fires
Mr Wardle says authorities are concerned that heavy fuel loads on the ground could be responsible for a higher than average fire danger in Queensland.
"With the higher temperatures we would expect the fuel loads to dry out and that would raise concerns about bushfire risk, particularly fast moving grassfires."
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