It’s hot. Really hot. And according the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) these sweltering conditions aren’t going away until the weekend. In fact, the worst isn’t expected to hit until Saturday.
Most of Queensland is feeling the heat but central and southern parts of the state, including the south-east, are in the grip of a severe heatwave.
The temperature in Brisbane is expected to reach 34°C over the next three days, on Saturday it will reach a scorching 36°C in the city. It’ll be similar in surrounding areas like Logan.
It is forecast to be slightly cooler on the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast. Further inland, in areas like Toowoomba, the mercury will rise to 37°C, it’ll climb to in 39°C in Ipswich. Western towns will suffer the most. At Birdsville it could get as high as 45°C on Thursday.
“No relief at night”: forecasters
Senior forecaster Sam Campbell told ABC News that Queensland should prepare for hot nights.
“It only got down to around 24 in Brisbane city overnight,” he said.
“It was quite humid so you throw that in with relative humidity and it actually felt more like 27 degrees throughout most of the night.”
Forecaster Diana Eadie spoke about this more in a piece by The Australian.
“The more interesting thing and the reason we are concerned … is the minimum temperatures are still remaining well above average so there is no relief at night. That’s the most unusual phenomenon. That’s where the records will be broken,” she said.
Be prepared for fires
The Rural Fire Service is urging everyone to “remain vigilant”. Maranoa, Warrego, Darling Downs and Granite Belt are in a very high fire danger area.
“During these heightened fire conditions we’re asking residents to take extra care, be alert, and help to prevent bushfires,” regional manager Tony Johnstone said.
“Warm temperatures combined with low humidity and increased winds create conditions where fires may develop quickly, spread rapidly and become more intense.”
Flooding in the Far North
As the south struggles in the heat, the Far North is battling torrential rain. The region has been swamped with nearly a metre of rain over the past week and more is on the way.
“There is still a high to very high chance of rainfall about the north of the state for the next few days,” forecaster Adam Woods told The Courier-Mail.
“And there is another low that’s just formed, 700 kilometres east, northeast of Cooktown,” he said.
According to BOM, the chance of it forming into a cyclone in the next few days is considered very low.
How to stay safe in the heat
ABC Emergency has a handy check list:
- Stay hydrated (the Queensland Ambulance Service recommends drink small amounts of water every 15 to 20 minutes even if you don’t feel thirsty)
- Dress light
- Stay out of the sun
- Get your home ready
- Seek air-conditioning
- Look after your pets
- Do not leave children or pets in parked vehicles
- Check on family, friends, neighbours.
- And, when you’re looking out for others, don’t forget wildlife.
If you or those close to you are suffering from heat stress, call for help immediately. It is important to call 000 if it’s an emergency, otherwise you can seek help from your GP. If it’s after hours, contact House Call Doctor by booking online, via the free app or by calling 13 55 66.
