Qld bushfires: 60 fires still burn but rain on the horizon

Southeast Queensland has been shrouded in smoke yet again as fires continue to rage in NSW. Picture: Twitter/Paul Tully | LATEST ALERTS

SOUTHEAST Queensland has been shrouded in smoke yet again as fires continue to rage in NSW.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services said the smoke was largely coming from the fires south of the border.

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It said if the smoke was affecting you, close windows and doors and stay inside.

The Bureau of Meteorology’s Alexander Maschrowski said the haze travelled north yesterday.

“It came up from New South Wales yesterday from a southerly change,” he said.

“We don’t expect it to last very long; tomorrow we will see a northeasterly change that will push most of the haze away”.

Brisbane City is barely visible from Mt Coot-tha this morning. Picture: Annette Dew

Look at this smoke haze!

Southeasterly winds in NSW are pushing massive amounts of bushfire smoke up into Qld. Sydney city is getting a slight reprieve as on-shore winds move the thickest smoke further inland.https://t.co/01ztzY6iih #nswfires #qldfires pic.twitter.com/kui47FBuFo

— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) December 22, 2019

As at 12.45pm, Brisbane’s air quality ranged from “very poor” in inner suburbs to “very good” in outer suburbs.

Meanwhile, firefighters face another day of severe danger across parts of Queensland before conditions ease heading into Christmas week.

More than 60 fires are burning within containment lines across the state as crews continue backburning operations.

Fears the catastrophic fire conditions experienced in southern states would push into Queensland have eased.

However severe conditions are expected in the Central Highlands and Coalfields and the Upper Flinders region.

It’s still bad: Just dropped my son off at Alderley in Brisbane. You can just make out the skyscrapers in the Brisbane CBD through the smoke haze, 6km away. pic.twitter.com/66f6qMgFV9

— PAUL TULLY 🇦🇺 (@PaulTully) December 22, 2019

“Our weather conditions will predominantly be driven by the warm conditions and the dry air sitting over the top of Queensland,” forecaster Rosa Hoff said.

The hot conditions are expected to continue, but rain could be on the way for Christmas.

“Mercifully for many as we head into next week our chances of getting some showers, particularly around the southeast of Queensland, is increasing.

“That means the fire dangers are slowing, decreasing as we move into next week, so thankfully we will not be seeing the conditions NSW is experiencing.”

The top of Mount Cootha this morning - can barely see the city @abcbrisbane pic.twitter.com/1jpVkwwIlx

— Anna Hartley (@Anna_Hartley1) December 22, 2019

The view flying in to Brisbane today. Picture: Nikki Fischer