Queensland weather: Extreme heatwave looms for state

PARAMEDICS are on standby as Queenslanders brace for an extreme heatwave to sweep through most of the state.

• La Nina Christmas
• Storm danger lurks

PARAMEDICS are on standby as Queenslanders brace themselves for an “extreme heatwave” to sweep through most of the state over the next several days.

By the end of this week, the mercury is forecast to soar up to 8C above average to reach a humid 43C in parts of the Channel Country in the southwestern interior of the state.

Afternoon storms are predicted.

Classed as an “extreme heatwave”, the Bureau of Meteorology warns the temperatures “will impact normally reliable infrastructure, such as power and transport”.

An Ergon Energy spokesman said the supplier was confident the network would function reliably under the conditions, after surviving a more severe heatwave earlier this year.

While the extreme conditions are likely to be isolated to areas around Thargomindah, almost the entire state will feel the impacts of either “severe” or “low-intensity” heatwaves as they spread from western areas during the week.

Coastal areas are the only places unaffected.

Bureau forecaster Adam Woods said the hot, stagnant air mass was showing little sign of movement.

“There’s no trough pushing cooler air through so it’s a very stagnant air mass,” Mr Woods said.

Queensland Ambulance Service senior operations inspector Chris Perera said paramedics “absolutely” expected services to increase.

“If you don’t take necessary precautions in hot temperatures, there’s a good chance you’ll be struck down with a heat-related illness,” Mr Perera said.

Gold Coast teenagers Abby Champney and Kairo Smith intend to keep themselves cool in the water, with temperatures in the area expected to peak at 31C through the rest of this week.