Another hot day is expected for Queensland and more records could be broken before a cool change com
Author: Sydnery Morning Herald. Date Posted:29 September 2017
Another hot day is expected for Queensland and more records could be broken before a cool change comes during the weekend.
Records for September day heat were melted at 12 locations across the state's south-east on Thursday, with places between Warwick, Toowoomba, the Sunshine Coast and Logan experiencing conditions between 10 degrees and 14 degrees above average.
Ipswich and Gatton have sweltered through their hottest September days, with the temperatures peaking above previous record highs.
On Thursday afternoon it hit 39.7 degrees at Ipswich, 0.5 above the record of 39.2, while at Gatton it reached 39.4 degrees and surpassed the previous high mark of 38.7
A Bureau of Meteorology forecaster said it was possible temperatures could keep rising.
Advertisement
The record-breaking heat comes as a warm air mass, which drove temperatures in the state's inland regions over 40 degrees on Wednesday, heads towards the coast.
Brisbane was forecast to reach a maximum 35 degrees, 3.3 short of the September record but by early afternoon the highest the mercury rose was 30.8 degrees.
"It has been a bit cooler than forecast," the BOM meteorologist said.
Julia Creek, in north-west Queensland, was the hottest place in the state with the mercury reaching 41.3.
It was the second day in which heat records were broken, after the outback town of Birdsville reached 42.8 degrees on Wednesday.
Local maximum records were also broken at Roma, St George, Charleville, Longreach and Mount Isa.
Relief could come to the south-east if sea breezes arrived, but they might be held off by the warm air mass heading out to sea.
Conditions across the state were due to ease next week.
Queensland Ambulance Service clinical director Tony Hucker advised people to keep to airconditioned buildings, drink plenty of water and wear loose-fitting clothing to beat the heat.
A severe fire danger rating is in place, along with fire bans, across south-east Queensland.
