Qld weather: Recording breaking December temps, with more heat and storms to come
Large parts of Queensland sweltered through the hottest December day in four years, with the temperature still above 40C in some centres on Friday night. The heatwave comes ahead of possibly violent and “very dangerous” storms on Saturday.
QLD weather news
Don't miss out on the headlines from QLD weather news. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Brisbane and large parts of the state sweated through their hottest day in four years, ahead of monster storms predicted to move from New South Wales into Queensland on Saturday.
Brisbane hit 38.3C at 3:15pm on Friday, the hottest since December 16, 2019.
In the North West of Queensland, Trepell and The Monument Airport hit 45.1C while Urandangi reached 45.6C and Birdsville 46C, also the hottest December day in four years.
There was little reprieve in Birdsville even after the sun set, with the temperature still hovering around 41C at 8pm.
This heatwave is set to end on Saturday as storms move from New South Wales up to Brisbane, stretching up as far as Rockhampton and inland from Roma to Emerald.
In a video update, the Bureau said a low pressure system in inland Australia paired with the tropical moisture over Queensland is forming these large thunderstorms.
The Bureau of Meteorology is warning that severe storms with damaging winds over 90km/h, hail larger than 2cm and heavy rain are likely for Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and large parts of South East Queensland on Saturday.
Storm forecast(Sat): SEVERE STORMS LIKELY in #Brisbane#GoldCoast#SunshineCoast and SE QLD. DAMAGING WIND (>90 km/h) LARGE HAIL (>2cm) HEAVY RAIN all concerns. VERY DANGEROUS STORM with DESTRUCTIVE WINDS, GIANT HAIL, INTENSE RAIN possible. Monitor warning https://t.co/FBmpsInT9opic.twitter.com/0T1UHC8FBt
— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) December 28, 2023
The storms will continue to hammer Queensland’s east coast into Sunday and the new year next week.
The Bureau is urging people to continue to monitor thunderstorm warnings and updates throughout the weekend.
The Gold Coast also broke records on Thursday, sweating through its hottest December day in six years at just under 36C.
The Bureau also warns that major rivers across regional Queensland are back on alert, with communities warned to prepare for possible minor to moderate flooding as heavy rain is expected to send out 2023. See the full list of flood warnings.
CURRENT TEMPS & 7-DAY FORECASTS
Join the conversation
Qld could get a cyclone this week, but it won’t be called Anthony
A tropical low could develop off the Queensland coast later this week with a chance of developing into a cyclone by the weekend. But it won’t follow naming conventions.
Read more
Education of more than 20k Qld children swept away in floods
More than 20,000 schoolchildren have had their education impacted by the Far North Queensland floods, while 100 are still unable to attend school.
Read more