Qld temps hit 40C on scorcher ahead of more storms
After a week of hail, intense rain and a tornado, the heat has arrived with the mercury rising to 40C in some parts of Queensland, as more storms begin to roll in. SEE THE LATEST TEMPS
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After a week of hail, intense rain and a tornado, the heat has arrived with the mercury rising to 40C in some parts of Queensland.
Temperatures across South East Queensland are soaring towards a forecast 36C, with the afternoon temperatures between 2-4pm expected to be the hottest of the day.
Across the rest of the Sunshine State, temperatures surpassed 40C in Central Queensland locations, including in Longreach and Julia Creek, while the heat climbed above 36C at Tewantin, Cloncurry, Mount Isa, Lochington and Windorah.
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE LATEST TEMPERATURES
Meteorologist Shane Kennedy said dry, hot winds which moved eastward from Central Queensland are still looming over the southeast corner and will continue the hot conditions over the afternoon.
Later this afternoon, westerly onshore winds will provide respite and help the temperature plummet towards a more typical low to mid-20s.
The hot weather already giving way to storm activity, with a storm warning issued for parts of the state’s central west just before 2pm on Sunday.
“A trough extends through the central inland parts of Queensland with a relatively unstable air mass on its eastern side,” the Bureau of Meteorology said in a statement.
“Rising temperatures are leading to the development of storms near this trough.
“The environment will support some organisation of this storm activity with the potential for damaging wind gusts increasing in the next few hours, with large hail also possible.”
Places such as Clermont, Moranbah, Capella, Dysart, Elgin Downs and Belyando are all in the firing line.
Southern Queensland was hit by storms on Saturday, with cricket-ball sized hail reported in the Sunshine Coast hinterland at 4.40pm.
But the storm eventually dispersed off the coast around 8.30pm.
Bureau of Meteorology Meteorologist Shane Kennedy said a “very high” fire danger warning was also in place for the southeast as strong dry winds pair with the soaring temperatures.
“We have a bit of a wind coming in from the west, and those dry and hot conditions have really increased that danger warning for the southeast,” Mr Kennedy said.
Winds are expected to peak between 30km/h and 40km/h, but averages across the southeast region will be about 20-30km/h.
Mr Kennedy said once temperatures cool off overnight, thunderstorms are likely to return for the southeast on Monday.
“It will be a cooler day for the southeast tomorrow, and then we’ll see those thunderstorms similar to last week return by late afternoon,” he said.
LATEST TEMPERATURES AS OF 2PM
South East Queensland
Tewantin 36.8C
Nambour 35.3C
Redcliffe 34.1C
Coolangatta 33.4C
Gold Coast Seaway 32.5C
Brisbane Airport 33.2C
Brisbane CBD 32.6C
Redlands 31.1C
Ipswich 31.9C
Logan 33.5C
Toowoomba 28.5C
Rest of Queensland
Longreach 40.6C
Julia Creek 40.9C
Richmond 39.3C
Cloncurry 38.9C
Mt Isa 38.9C
Lochington 37.3C
Windorah 37.6C
Palmerville 36.7C
Townsville 33.5C
Roma 34.5C
Coconut Island 32.3C
Cape Flattery 31.6C
Bundaberg 34.5C
Cairns 31.4C
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