Brisbane residents have been urged to brace for their hottest December day in four years as heatwave conditions consume Queensland.
Maps from the Bureau of Meteorology show low-intensity heatwave conditions across almost the entirety of Queensland between Friday and Sunday, as well as severe conditions in the state’s north and a pocket of extreme heat around the northwest.
The heatwave is not isolated to Queensland and also covers large parts of the Northern Territory and northern WA.
Friday is forecast to be the hottest day of the heatwave, with temperatures in Brisbane expected to reach a high of 37C.
That, if reached, would be the city’s hottest December day since 2019, when temperatures reached 42C, according to Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Felim Hanniffy.
Maximum temperatures of between 42C and 46C are forecast in western Queensland, as well as 36C in Rockhampton, 35C in Bundaberg and 32C for the Gold Coast.
Mr Hanniffy warned the temperatures combined with high humidity make the heat feel highly uncomfortable.
“This heatwave was caused by the trough that created the widespread thunderstorm activity over past couple of days,” he said.
“As it moved east, it dragged the hot weather across Queensland. The trough has weakened but the heat has remained.”
As the trough moves across southern Queensland, it will help to “flush out” the heat, Mr Hanniffy said — but at the cost of yet more storms.
“The daytime maximums will come down into the lower 30s, but it comes at a price as it does bring the risk of significant storm activity as it flushes out the high temperatures over the weekend,” he said.
“Brisbane, Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast could be at risk of thunderstorms and isolated, very dangerous storms.
“On Sunday, the focal point of thunderstorms may include areas north of Brisbane, Sunshine Coast up to Capricornia.
“By Monday the risk of storms is north of the Sunshine Coast, Burnett to Capricornia.”