Heatwave conditions settle in, with hot days and little relief at night

Meteorologist explains what’s driving the mercury up and what’s in store for the rest of the week.

Longreach will endure three days straight of 44-degree maximums as heatwave conditions continue across the state.

The mercury will hit 44 in the central western town on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, while 43 is forecast for Friday and Saturday.

Blackwater and Emerald also have several days of 40 or better, while Rockhampton is set to reach 39 on Tuesday, its highest temperature of the week.

Meteorologist Helen Reid from the Bureau of Meteorology said the soaring temperatures were associated with the location of ex-Tropical Cyclone Seth.

“It’s location is helping a lot of heat to come through from over the continent,” she said.

The location of ex-Tropical Cyclone Seth is driving temperatures up across Central Queensland.

“Normally you’d get a bit of an onshore flow which is a bit more humid but we actually have air coming from the north but also across the continent so it’s actually got time to heat up.

“That weather pattern isn’t changing so it means that the air can just keep getting progressively hotter as well.

“It’s settling into that heatwave set-up where there’s consistently hot temperatures during the day and it doesn’t cool off overnight.”

Ms Reid said some centres could expect “a little relief” temperature-wise towards the end of the week.

“It’s looking like Friday and Saturday there’s a slight chance of shower activity coming through, and with that there’s also the potential for some thunderstorm action as well,” she said.

“It’s all dependent on where ex-Tropical Cyclone Seth ends up - how far north it might drift or not.”

Five-day forecasts for regional centres

Rockhampton

Tuesday 24-39

Wednesday 25-36

Thursday 25-34

Friday 24-33

Saturday 23-31

Emerald

Tuesday 24-41

Wednesday 25-40

Thursday 26-41

Friday 25-39

Saturday 24-36

Blackwater

Tuesday 24-41

Wednesday 25-40

Thursday 26-39

Friday 24-37

Saturday 23-35

Longreach

Tuesday 27-44

Wednesday 26-44

Thursday 25-44

Friday 26-43

Saturday 27-43

Gladstone

Tuesday 24-34

Wednesday 24-31

Thursday 25-31

Friday 24-29

Saturday 23-29

Yeppoon

Tuesday 26-34

Wednesday 26-31

Thursday 26-31

Friday 25-30

Saturday 24-29

Originally published as Heatwave conditions settle in, with hot days and little relief at night