Gold Coast bushfires: Bad conditions to strike the Coast as dry thunderstorms forecast

Thunderstorms are on the cards for the Gold Coast, but the Bureau of Meteorology says it spells bad news for firefighters in the hinterland.

FIREFIGHTERS are rushing to back up containment lines across the fire-affected hinterland before dangerous conditions strike again tomorrow.

Bushfires continue to burn across the Gold Coast and Scenic Rim region, but are not threatening homes or properties, a Queensland Fire and Emergency Services spokeswoman said.

Overnight the fire, which began at Sarabah two weeks ago, was burning near Pyramid Creek in Lamington National Park, along with fire fronts in the Numbinbah Valley and Binna Burra, south of MacKenzie Rd.

Bushfire rages near Sarabah in the Gold Coast hinterland. Picture: supplied

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However conditions on the ground are expected to become more difficult tomorrow with a “very high” fire danger forecast across the southeast.

Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) forecaster Kimba Wong said hot, dry conditions are expected to blanket the hinterland with temperatures up to 8C higher than average in some parts.

“We are expecting it to be a very windy day tomorrow … so warm and windy conditions is going to lead to the elevated fire dangers that we are expecting,” she said.

Ms Wong said firefighters were also bracing for dry, gusty thunderstorms which are forecast for the Gold Coast tomorrow afternoon.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and wife Jenny look over Binna Burra. Picture: AAP Image/Dave Hunt

WHO COPS BELIEVE LIT HINTERLAND BUSHFIRES

There is also the possibility of hailstones, but there will be little rain to douse the blazes as the temperature hovers around 30C in the hinterland.

“There’s the added risk of dry lightning being an ignition source for fires,” Ms Wong said.

She said north-westerly winds of 30 to 40kph and changeable wind gusts of around 65kph were also likely, leading to “very challenging” conditions for firefighters.

But there is relief in sight, with Wednesday expected to bring cooler, less windy conditions.

A local fire ban prohibiting the lighting of fires in the open is currently in place until midnight on Friday.