Sizzling state: 35 bushfire warnings as ‘true heatwave’ heads for north, west
A heatwave could hit far north Queensland and the state’s south west where a fire has triggered warnings for residents.
Queensland has been warned over heatwave conditions and bushfire warnings. (Image: AAP).
Above-average temperatures have been forecast this week with 35 fires burning across Queensland on Monday.
“It’s going to get quite hot,” a Bureau of Meteorology spokesperson told AAP.
The state’s tropical inland is set to swelter, with the bureau rating it the best chance to experience “true heatwave” conditions.
The area at risk covers Charters Towers near Townsville inland through to Mount Isa, up north to the Atherton Tablelands, and possibly even down to the Central Highlands.
“A heatwave is rated not just on the heat but on how it compares to usual,” the bureau spokesperson said.
“It also has to be three days in a row.
“There are no (heatwave) warnings yet but Wednesday to Friday is the period that could potentially trigger them (in the tropical inland).”
The far north is already on high alert with a “prepare to leave” warning current for a fire near Mount Garnet on the Atherton Tablelands.
“A slow-moving fire is burning at Silver Valley,” the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services warning said.
“It is travelling towards Wyndham Creek Road (Mount Garnet).
“Conditions could get worse quickly.
“Firefighters are working to contain the fire.
“You should not expect a firefighter at your door.
“Firefighting aircraft are helping ground crews.”
The weather is also heating up on the Western Downs, where residents are recovering from a ferocious fire that claimed a life, destroyed almost 60 homes and forced hundreds to evacuate.
Around Dalby, temperatures have been forecast to reach up to 40C later this week, almost 10C above average, with border town Goondiwindi set to hit 39C.
Further west at Charleville and Longreach, temperatures are set to hit 40C, which is also above average, the bureau said.
“It’s November and in the outback, it is hot anyway, but 40 is always hot,” the bureau spokesperson said.
“I mean in Birdsville they have already had a 45 yesterday.
“For them, it is a bit above average but it is still hot.”
Brisbane is set to hit 32C by Thursday, about five degrees above average.
The only chance of rainfall on Monday was in the Granite Belt area on the Darling Downs west of Brisbane, with potentially severe, isolated storms forecast.
Southeast Queensland could receive showers from Thursday, the bureau said.
