Extreme fire danger for South East Queensland as temperatures to hit 36C

South East Queensland is set for a scorching start to the week, with temperatures reaching up to 36C and an extreme fire danger rating in some regions, and no sign of rain on the horizon.

South East Queensland is bracing for heatwave conditions today. Picture: weatherwatch.com.au

South East Queensland is set for a scorching start to the week, with temperatures reaching up to 36C and an extreme fire danger rating in some regions.

The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting a hot, dry and windy Monday after the region sweltered through an equally hot weekend.

Senior meteorologist at the Bureau Kimba Wong said Brisbane would reach 33C on Monday, Ipswich would hit 36C, while Oxley, Beaudesert and Gatton would have maximums of 35C.

“It’s a very hot one … it might feel sort of somewhat similar to the weekend, but perhaps a touch warmer, particularly through the western suburbs,” she said.

“The main sort of reason we’ve got these warmer temperatures is that we’ve got northerly winds, so those warmer northerly winds bring in that heat from further north down in southeast Queensland and it’s quite dry here.”

The “several degrees above average” maximums will not stick around long, with a cooler southerly wind change to come through the Southeast overnight, but that relief will be short-lived.

“Tomorrow, the maximum temperatures will be several degrees less than what they are today, and then cooler further for Wednesday with a little bit more cloud cover around as well,” Ms Wong said.

“So a brief respite through the mid week period.”

It could get to 36C in parts of South East Queensland today. Picture: weatherwatch.com.au

By next weekend temperatures will begin to climb again, reaching about 30C near the coast, and 35C west of Brisbane.

As temperatures remain high, so does the fire danger rating, with some regions, including the Darling Downs and Granite Belt, facing extreme conditions, while the rest of the state has a high fire danger rating.

A fire weather warning has been established for the Darling Downs and Granite Belt fire weather district amid the warm and dry conditions, with gusty north-westerly winds ahead of a fresh and gusty west to south-westerly change extending from the west during the afternoon and evening.

Fire bans are active across council areas in the states southern region including Balonne Shire, Scenic Rim, Ipswich City, Somerset Regional, Southern Downs, Western Downs, Lockyer Valley, Goondiwindi, and Logan City.

QFES said the lighting of fires in the declared fire ban areas are prohibited subject to any special conditions or exemptions, all open fires are prohibited and all Permits to Light Fire issued in the designated areas are cancelled.

Originally published as Extreme fire danger for South East Queensland as temperatures to hit 36C