South East QLD prepares for heatwave as North lashed by rain

While the South East will be sweating from well above average highs, a tropical low threatens the north with high tides, a rain deluge and the possibility of a tropical cyclone.

Elise Smith 17, and Josh Neville 18, from Brisbane beat the heat with a dip at Buderim Falls on the Sunshine Coast. Picture: Lachie Millard

South East Queenslanders should brace themselves for an incoming heatwave, while North Queensland continues to be lashed by a rain bomb.

The Bureau of Meteorology’s (BoM) senior forecaster Felim Hanniffy said temperatures were expected to move into the mid-30s in the early parts of the week ahead in southeastern part of the state.

“[It’s] hot for the time of year, it’s above average,” Mr Hanniffy said.

“The peak of it is probably during Tuesday, and that’s when we see temperatures, anywhere from four to six degrees above average across parts of southeastern [Queensland and] Darling Downs.”

Temperatures are predicted to creep into the low 30s on the Gold Coast, with a maximum temperature of 29C on Monday, 30C on Tuesday and 31C on Wednesday and minimum temperatures between 20 to 23C until Friday.

It will be mostly sunny from Monday to Thursday with a small chance showers and rain more likely by the end of the week.

The Sunshine Coast will also feel the heat, with lows between 19 to 23C and maximum temperatures between 29 and 31C until Friday.

Mostly sunny conditions are expected from Monday to Wednesday, with rain likely Thursday and especially Friday.

Brisbane can expect to sweat with temperatures between 29 to 33C throughout the week, with mostly sunny conditions until Wednesday.

By Thursday, there is a possibility of showers and on Friday, a 50 per cent chance of rain.

As a weather system moves from the west across the south of the state, Mr Hanniffy said there would be a chance of some showers and thunderstorms over the southeastern interior, the Darling Downs and eventually over the southeast coast on Thursday.

“[Temperatures] slowly cooling back to probably a little bit closer to average for the later part of the week,” Mr Hanniffy said.

It’s a different story in the state’s north, as multiple flood warnings and watches were in place on Sunday evening.

A severe weather warning was active as a slow-moving tropical low was sitting off the southern coast of the Gulf of Carpentaria extending north.

From Sunday to Tuesday, daily rainfalls up to 100mm are likely with isolated heavier falls between 150 to 250mm over some areas between Cooktown to Cardwell where a flood watch was in place.

BoM also warned of abnormally high tides for those the northwestern coast of Cape York Peninsula.

Mr Hanniffy said the tropical low had a low chance of developing into a tropical cyclone but would be a watch point over the new few days.

“So abnormally high tides and flooding [are] the primary concern with that system,” Mr Hanniffy said.

“I’m afraid up there it’s a different story. [There] is too much rainfall and towns are already isolated and the situation … might lead to it further with ongoing rainfall.”

A major flood warning was in place on Sunday evening for the lower Flinders River and a moderate flood warning for the Eyre Creek.

There were minor flood warnings in place for the Cloncurry River, lower Georgina River, Nicholson River, and the Norman River.

Flood warnings were also issued for the Leichhardt River and Diamantina River.