Queensland is currently experiencing a severe heatwave, prompting authorities to urge residents to brace themselves for heightened fire risks.
The Bureau of Meteorology reports that an intensely hot air mass is sweeping across much of the state and is expected to persist over a significant area beginning tomorrow.
Warnings of extreme and severe heatwaves have been issued, spanning from the north-western corner to the south-east of the state.
This alert follows Birdsville’s recent record-breaking October temperature, where the outback town in south-west Queensland reached a scorching 46 degrees Celsius on Tuesday.
Garry Youngberry, a weather forecaster for 9News Queensland, notes that the extreme heat will begin to impact the south-eastern regions today and is likely to extend into the early part of next week.
“Temperatures are anticipated to rise into the high thirties today, and they are expected to climb even further as we approach the start of next week,” he stated.
“We could even see Brisbane’s western suburbs touching that 40-degree mark.”
Today, Brisbane is forecast to reach a maximum of 34 degrees, while Ipswich will peak at 38 degrees.
In other parts, Warwick is expected to hit 36 degrees, and Toowoomba can expect 34 degrees.
The rising temperatures have triggered fire warnings across large parts of Queensland.
Rural Fire Service Queensland acting chief officer Tyrone McMahon told Today that fire bans are in place for large areas of the state’s north and residents need to be prepared.
“We ask the community now to do their bit, be prepared, make sure their property is prepared, and make sure they’ve got a bushfire survival plan that they can enact at short notice should a fire start in their area,” he said.
