Winter? Temperatures in 30s hit Brisbane for final week of August

Brisbane is on track for its hottest winter day in more than a decade – and there is a “slight chance” the record could be set this weekend.

The temperature was tipped to hit 31 degrees on Monday, before climbing to 32 degrees on Thursday and Friday and then peaking at 34 degrees on Saturday.

The heat reached 27.8 degrees by midday on Monday, although the apparent – or “feels like” – temperature, which takes the humidity into account, was 29.6 degrees.

Ipswich was set to be even hotter, with the temperature expected to hit 33 degrees on Monday and 36 degrees on Saturday.

“It’ll be an unseasonably warm spell,” senior Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Pieter Claassen said.

“We’re likely to see areas including Brisbane with their hottest August day since 2009, with a slight chance we may even set the record.”

Brisbane sweltered through its hottest winter day since record-keeping began on August 24, 2009, when the temperature reached 35.4 degrees.

Temperature in the city was forecast to be 11 degrees above the long-term average come Saturday.

“We had a lot of [hot weather] over central Australia from late last week and we’ve really seen a trough come [through] ... and bring it over Queensland,” Claassen said.

However, the coming hot spell was unlikely to be categorised as a “heatwave” as nights were expected to remain mild.

“Overnight will still be above average … but we’re not seeing really, really warm temperatures,” Claassen said.

“We should have a little bit of cooling at least.”

The minimum overnight temperatures were expected to dip as low as 13 degrees.

Storms were also possible on Monday and Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Birdsville in western Queensland recorded its hottest August day on record on Sunday with a top of 38.4 degrees.