The Sunshine State is set to live up to its name over the Australia Day weekend with temperatures hitting 37C in Brisbane on Friday after consecutive days of hot weather and 46C inland before cooling slightly as the weekend rolls on.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued heatwave warnings on Friday for coastal areas north from Brisbane to Rockhampton.
The Sunshine State is set to live up to its name over the Australia Day weekend. (Dan Peled/AAP PHOTOS)
Inland at Longreach, temperatures were set to peak at 46C before dropping to the low 40s on Saturday and Sunday.
"Whilst we're used to it, it's still a bit of a shock for locals," Longreach Regional Council Mayor Anthony Rayner told the ABC.
"I just put a thermometer out - exceeded 50. It wouldn't read higher than 50.
"So the outside temperature is extremely high at the moment but it's only for a brief time, so we'll put up with it, stay indoors, and stay hydrated."
Nearby Winton was also set for 46C with all townships in the central west region hitting 40C or more.
Temperatures will range from 39C to 45C in Boulia in the Channel Country.
An extreme heatwave warning is current for the Capricornia district with severe warnings for 14 other areas spanning inland regions to the north tropical coast.
"Those heatwaves are severe to locally extreme through much of east, central and southeast Queensland, low-intensity ongoing across parts of the west," meteorologist Miriam Bradbury said.
A heatwave warning has been cancelled for the Channel Country district, the Bureau of Meteorology said.
Holiday makers are revelling in warmer weather but severe thunderstorms are also forecast. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS)
Conditions would ease across the weekend but low-intensity heatwave conditions were expected to persist into next week, the bureau said.
Soaring temperatures can lead to heat-related illnesses such as dehydration, heat stroke, cramps and exhaustion.
But the warnings haven't stopped people looking to get a jump on the long weekend, with ferries to popular holiday destination North Stradbroke Island almost booked out.
Kids on Brisbane's north side at Redcliffe also lapped up the warmer weather by taking a plunge to cool off.
SeaLink's vehicle ferry service to and from Stradbroke Island is full on Friday and has one available booking late on Saturday.
"Everything is booked," one traveller told AAP.
"It feels like most people have done that well in advance. Sitting on the vehicle ferry now, it's brimming with passengers."
Severe Weather Update: More severe storms for eastern Australia. — Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) Video current: 12:00pm AEDT 24 January 2025.Latest forecasts and warnings: https://t.co/4W35o8iFmh or the BOM Weather app. pic.twitter.com/3bQIvX8qKoJanuary 24, 2025
While holiday-makers will be revelling in warmer weather, severe thunderstorm warnings are likely for the Wide Bay, Burnett and southern Capricornia regions on Friday with a chance of damaging wind, large hail and heavy rainfall.
"We can't rule out high end storms ... bringing giant size hail - hail with a diameter greater than 5cm - or destructive wind gusts," meteorologist Sarah Scully said on Friday.
The severe rainfall could lead to property damage, road closures and damage to crops in the region.
Possible severe storms have been forecast by the bureau for the Gold Coast and between Kingaroy and Moranbah.
21°C