Qld weather: Chilly weekend to make way for hot end to the week, with temperatures to soar past 30C

South East Queensland has woken to another colder-than-average day, after a chilly and windy weekend saw temperatures plummet, but the mercury is set to soar past 30C in a matter of days.

South East Queensland has woken to colder-than-average temperatures after a windy and chilly weekend, but a taste of summer is on the way later this week.

The region experienced a weekend of below-average temperatures that were made to feel even worse because of a brisk south-easterly breeze,

A south-easterly air flow brought strong winds along the southeast coast over the weekend, with the lingering effect felt during a cold snap this morning.

Sunday’s low in Brisbane was 14C, but the Bureau of Meteorology says a new weather system is approaching from the west, which will see temperatures soar past 30C in some southeast regions.

Senior forecaster Felim Hanniffy said although it was a cold start to the day on Monday, with temperatures as low as 12C, the rest of the week will see hot and dry conditions, bringing with them high fire danger in some areas.

“From Thursday, the daytime max is above average for October and especially Friday and into the weekend,” he said.

Brisbane is forecast to see temperatures of up to 32C on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

A high fire danger warning has been issued for central and northern districts over the next few days affetcting parts of the Gulf Country, Northern Coalfields, central Highlands and Central West.

The mercury will pass 30C today in the Northern Coalfields district, the Peninsula, the Gulf Country, Channel Country and North West.

The highest temperature today is forecast to hit 36C in the Gulf Country region of Kowanyama.

The Bureau has also issued a severe thunderstorm warning for western Queensland, with storm activity already developing this morning .Mt Isa, Quilpie and Birdsville are all in the firing line.

Mr Hanniffy said there was also a chance of thunderstorms from Friday and into the weekend.

“The change in wind will probably mean the chance of shower or thunderstorm activity from Friday,” he said.

Mr Hanniffy said the cold morning was from the “lingering effect from last week’s cooler south-westerly”.

On the southeast coast, the coldest temperature was recorded near Scenic Rim in Canungra, which dipped to 5.9C, while is was 6.1C in Kingaroy, and Applethorpe in the Darling Downs recorded 6.6C.

File picture: A cold commuter in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail

It comes as Brisbane residents were urged to prepare for a trifecta of extreme weather events over coming months.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner warned residents not to be complacent amid heightened bushfire risks, storm season and the potential for severe heatwaves.

“We need to take this seriously,” Cr Schrinner said, adding people needed to be aware of the risks and prepare,” he said.

“We live in the most disaster-prone state in Australia and severe weather could strike at any time.

“One of the most important things you can do is sign up to the free Brisbane’s Severe Weather Alert service.”