Tropical heatwave grips Queensland as snow falls in southern states

Residents of one Aussie state are struggling through an extreme heatwave that has sent humidity levels soaring.

A heatwave is gripping one part of the country, while another is reporting its first snowfall of the year.

Queenslanders are sweating through a tropical heatwave with extreme humidity levels making the temperature feel even hotter.

Temperatures above 37C were reported early on Friday morning in Brisbane and Logan.

Extreme levels of humidity after being experienced right across the state of Queensland with Brisbane topping the highest level possible at 24C on Friday.

A heatwave warning has been issued for the coming days for the Central Coast and Whitsundays, Capricornia, Wide Bay and Burnett and Southeast Coast regions.

A heatwave is gripping southeast QLD. Picture BOM

The warm weather has intensified bushfire conditions with the fire danger rated high in most parts of the region in the coming days.

A fire is burning in Miles where heavy smoke has forced authorities to issue a warning to avoid smoke.

Reduced air quality can impact vulnerable residents so locals are advised to keep windows and doors closed and avoid driving through smoke.

With the warm weather fuelling fire conditions today, please remember bushfires are 🚫NO DRONE ZONES🚫.

Drones can interfere with our air operations, forcing us to halt waterbombing or ground aircraft to avoid mid-air collisions.

Please keep the drones at home. pic.twitter.com/DKtHUOV4RT

— Qld Fire & Emergency (@QldFES) February 3, 2023

Conditions are expected to peak on Friday with extreme fire danger possible for some areas.

The Queensland Fire and Emergency Service has warned drone owners that bushfire zones prohibit the flying of drones as they may interfere with air operations.

A severe thunderstorm warning may need to be issued for northern Queensland later in the afternoon, the Bureau of Meteorology said in a tweet.

Heavy rainfall is due to hit

First snow of the year has fallen

Snow has fallen for the first time this year in the Alps of two states overnight.

Temperatures plummeted to below zero in both NSW and Victoria triggering the first snowfall in the high country.

Cameras in Kosciuszko National Park show the snowfields blanke in a thin layer of white snow and a misty haze in the air just before 8am this morning.

Snow has fallen for the first time this year in the NSW and Victorian Alps. Picture: Weatherzone

Spencers Creek between Perisher Resort and Charlotte Pass coated in snow. Source: Steve Smith Picture: Weatherzone

“This unseasonable system has been on the charts since at least last Saturday and now that it‘s here, cool temperatures should stick around for the next 24 hours or so before a warming trend kicks in,” Weatherzone meteorologist Anthony Sharwood said.

Temperatures are much lower than usual in the Alpine regions for this time of year with both Melbourne and Canberra scraping a maximum of 17C on Friday.

Sydney on the other hand is also in the midst of a warm early February day with a top of 31C.

Originally published as Tropical heatwave grips Queensland as snow falls in southern states