Southeast Qld records hottest March day on record

Southeast Queensland has recorded its hottest March day on record, and the weather bureau warns worse is still to come.

HEATWAVE conditions across the state have been described by farmers as relentless, with scorching temperatures bringing devastation for growers.

Queensland farmers have borne the brunt of the brutal summer, with years of drought giving way to rapid flooding, and now heatwave conditions that are clobbering crops.

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Lavender farmer Gary Young said the heat at Thornton in the Lockyer Valley had been stifling, with temperatures forecast to reach up to 40C.

He said this summer has been the worst in his 15 years on the farm.

“It’s shocking to be honest, it’s just devastating not only for us but others in the Lockyer Valley who are trying to grow crops,” he said.

“We get a sprinkle of rain and then the heat, and it’s the extremes that go beyond comprehension really for this time of the year, and the conditions have just been for so long.

“It has certainly knocked the lavender over badly.”

Gary Young surveys his drought-hit lavendar farm in the Lockyer Valley. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Mr Young has to water his crops early in the morning, because by lunchtime the drip lines are so hot that the water kills the plants by scalding them.

“This will be the worst year; last year with the heat and the length of the summer and now it’s the longest and the hardest we’ve had,” Mr Young said.

“All of the grounds where the lavender is, it’s horrendously dry.”

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Michael Gray said March temperatures had been “very much” above average, but hot weather this time of the year was not unusual due to the transitioning from summer.

“Gatton briefly touched at 40C (Monday) afternoon which is a record for March,” Mr Gray said.

“I believe that was the first time we’ve had 40C in March in southeast Queensland on our records.”

Gatton held the previous record of 39.5C

Warwick also broke its previous March record of 37.2C, reaching 37.4C yesterday.

Brisbane was over 5C above average yesterday, reaching 34.6C, while other parts of the southeast were 8C to 9C degrees above average.

Mr Gray said the bureau would have a better understanding of how many records had been broken by this morning.

Other scorching temperatures were recorded at Gayndah (39.8C), Ipswich (38.6C), Beaudesert (38.7C) and Toowoomba (35C), while Birdsville and Longreach topped 40C.

Mr Gray said today could be even warmer, with temperatures about 6-8C above the month’s average.

“We’ll still be in the high 30s for large areas of inland Queensland, and the low 40s in parts of the far west,” he said.

“Basically in a line from Mount Isa towards Quilpie and down just near Thargomindah, we can expect temperatures there into the low 40s and Longreach as well, so it will be hotter out there.”

Queensland Ambulance Service clinical director Tony Hucker said paramedics were noticing an increase in workload as temperatures continued to soar, and urged those working outdoors over the next few days to be on alert for signs of heat stress, and for people to look out for their neighbours.

“We normally say avoid the hottest part of the day, (but) it’s hot all the time, so you think about a 24-hour event pretty much so the rules apply right around the clock,” he said.

Mr Hucker said a glass of water could be life-saving, but Queenslanders need way more than a glass and have to keep their fluids up as heatwave conditions are set to continue until Thursday.

Today’s top temps

1. Gatton 40

2. Beaudesert 38.7

3. Amberley (Ipswich) 38.6

4. Gympie 37.5

5. Archerfield airport 36.9

6. Nambour 35.7

7. Brisbane City (Kangaroo Point 34.6)

8. Tewantin 33.9

9. Sunshine Coast Airport Maroochydore 33.7

10. Redcliffe 32.6