Temperatures soar as five-day heatwave sets in for southern Queensland

Queensland temperatures have soared, and will continue to rise as a five-day heatwave sets in, with the mercury tipped to go as high as 42C in some parts and high humidity in the southeast adding to the discomfort.

Queensland temperatures have shot more than five degrees above the monthly average as a four-day heatwave sets in – and high humidity levels have the southeast feeling even hotter again.

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The Bureau of Meteorology yesterday warned the state of a “stifling” heatwave that would see temperatures “punch through the 40 mark” in parts of Queensland.

Brisbane had already reached its forecast maximum temperature of 31C before midday today – some 6C above its November average.

#Queensland braces for a #heatwave, with inland temperatures expected to punch through the 40 mark this weekend, and no relief to the stifling conditions expected until Wednesday. For more information on heatwaves, please visit https://t.co/nVdjsNPk9C #QLDweather pic.twitter.com/1hf9s2mbDs

— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) November 12, 2020

Forecaster Pieter Claassen said high humidity had raised apparent temperatures even further, to a “muggy” 33C.

“With that humidity and the heat it does feel pretty gross outside,” he said.

“It feels like temperature’s been above 30 degrees for much of the day today … from midmorning upwards”

“Ipswich is the hottest so far across the south east … 33 degrees, we are forecasting 38C for them today,” Mr Claassen said.

“(Sunshine) Coast airport looks particularly hot … 32 degrees, that’s pretty hot for the coastline.”

The mercury rose on the Gold Coast too, with temperatures reaching 31.4C at around 11.30am today.

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The bureau is not expecting any records to be broken by the heatwave, but hot temperatures are expected to “persist for the next several days until Wednesday when we get a change coming through”.

Temperatures around the southeast are expected to remain 5-7C above average, while further inland – around the Birdsville region – the bureau expects the mercury to rise as high as 42C.

“That’s similar to how far above average we are for the southeast,” Mr Claassen said.