Doctor’s warning ahead of southeast heatwave blast

Temperatures in parts of Queensland are climbing towards 40C as the people across the state experience their first taste of El Niño on Thursday.

Taylah Fellows and Liam Cook

3 min read

September 21, 2023 - 3:19PM

‘Extreme heatwave conditions’ to be expected with El Nino weather event

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Temperatures in parts of Queensland are climbing towards 40C as the people across the state experience their first taste of El Niño on Thursday.

The mercury was forecast to climb into the high 30s across much of the state, prompting a doctor to remind residents to stay safe from heatstroke.

Figures from the Bureau of Meteorology showed a scorching 39.3C at Julia Creek, in the state’s far north-west, about 1.50pm.

The temperature had dropped to 38.4C at 3pm. At the same time it was 38.1C in Winton and 37.4C at Mount Isa.

The weather bureau has also forecast sweltering temperatures across the South East, which was expected to be several degrees hotter than Cairns, with Brisbane forecast to reach 35C and Ipswich 36C, although it’s possible maximum temperatures might fall a little short, meteorologist Helen Reid said.

The Bureau showed Brisbane hit 32.3C about 1.30, dropping back to 29.8 at 3pm.

It was 35.3 at Gatton, in the Lockyer Valley, at the same time, down from 35.9 at 2.40.

“We are looking at 33C degrees in the city itself shortly after the middle of the day.”

Brisbane was sitting at 31.3C at 12.30pm.

“Thargomindah, Birdsville and Cunnamulla are looking at 30C, 31C, but anywhere to the North like Charleville or Goondiwindi are looking at 35C as the cooler air takes longer to reach them,” Ms Reid said.

“Those temperatures do look horrific in the Far North, with high 30s in many of those places, but it will be hot for most of the state.”

Hot conditions will be felt across the state, with the majority of areas reaching 10C above average.

It comes after the Bureau on Tuesday declared a double El Niño and Positive Indian Dipole weather event, warning Australians to prepare for a summer of heat and fire hazard.

Heatwave conditions will grip the state on Thursday, with the South East forecast to get hotter than Cairns.

Dr Jane Wehipeihana from Medical on Robina urged Queenslanders, particularly at-risk groups to take extra precautions in the Thursday heatwave conditions, saying too many people were “caught off guard” when temperatures suddenly spiked.

“We do get patient walk-ins with mild signs of heatstroke, which can be catastrophic. Heatstroke is not to be taken lightly,” she said.

“You stop sweating, your body temperature goes really high, your skin is dry and flush and you can have nausea and muscle spasms.

“At the worse end, you can get irritable, delirious and suffer seizures.

“At times of a heatwaves, there are more ambulance call outs and our staff are already under pressure, so it’s really about the public being aware about the symptoms and trying not to get unwell.”

Stunning timelapse of fog blanketing Brisbane

Dr Wehipeihana said the key to getting through a heatwave is to be sensible, stay well hydrated, stay in the shade or inside, and for those who could afford to – turn on airconditioning.

She reminded elderly people to seek out airconditioned shopping centres if they were struggling to keep cool at home.

“In a heatwave, everyone is vulnerable but it‘s more children elderly, pregnant women and patients with heart disease, diabetes, cancer, that are most vulnerable,” Dr Wehipeihana said.

“Keep children out of the sun and if you‘ve got a little one who is running around and hasn’t had much to drink and their nappy is dry, they need fluids.