Relief on the way after scorching heatwave
Temperatures across southeast Queensland passed 40C as the state’s two-week heatwave reaches boiling point.
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Gatton recorded one of its hottest December days and parts of southeast Queensland hit about 40C as a sweltering heatwave continues.
Gatton reached a scorching 43.5C, the hottest December Day recorded at the current University of Queensland weather station and one degree below the 44.5 recorded on Christmas Eve in 1972.
Elswhere in the southeast, Gayndah recorded 41.2C and Ipswich 39.9C.
Longreach was just 0.4C shy its December record, reaching 46C.
Across Winton and Julia Creek temperatures soared above 45C, while Roma and Emerald also reached into the 40s.
Bisbane reached a high of 33C at 11:20am this morning.
The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting Brisbane to reach a top of 34C tomorrow.
Ipswich residents, who have been suffering through sweltering conditions for two weeks, can expect a top of 41C today, with Gatton expecting 42C.
Top temperatures further west are expected to be milder, with 37C forecast today in Cunnamulla and 34C tomorrow.
Goondiwindi residents can expect a sweltering top of 42C today with a possible storm before a cool change sees a maximum temperature of 34C tomorrow.
The state’s all-time heat record was close to being broken yesterday as the state continued be put on severe fire alerts.
Western Queensland fire crews were put on high alert as the Bureau of Meteorology predicted possible flare-ups in conditions that saw 40+C temperatures and 50km/h winds that were expected to lash the region, but thankfully didn’t materialise into new fire fronts.
Several towns including Thargomindah, Ballera and Windorah smashed 45C yesterday, with Birdsville again taking out the top hot spot, hitting a scorching 48.7C, just 1C shy of the state’s 49C all-time maximum record.
A long awaited shift in temperatures is expected to begin today, with a trough set to cross the NT/QLD border leading to a dramatic fall in temperatures. Birdsville’s maximum set to drop by 16C.
The cooler trough will then make its way towards the southeast coast by Monday or Tuesday, with BoM Meteorologist Peter Markworth revealing much-needed rain might finally be on the cards as well, with potential for it to reach as far north as bushfire-ridden Fraser Island.
“System like this forecast normally has rain that comes with it – so it wouldn’t be out of the question to expect some falls in the coming week.
Storms are also a possibility in Brisbane tomorrow, with the BOM saying there’s a chance of 5 to 20mm of rain.
CURRENT TEMPERATURES & 7-DAY FORECASTS
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