Heatwave to hit region today

Fire danger rating ‘severe’ for today and tomorrow

TEMPERATURES are set to soar to 40 degrees in parts of our region today. BOM forecaster Kimba Wong said the rise in temps was due to increasing northwesterly winds ahead of an approaching trough. “With the increasing temperatures we are expecting fire dangers to be enhanced on those days as well and we’ve just upgraded the fire danger ratings for Monday to be severe for Darling Downs, Granite

Belt and Maranoa,” she said.

Similar conditions are expected tomorrow.

“Temperatures in the southeast are expected to be significantly above average on Monday and Tuesday with some locations reaching 10 to 11 degrees above average for this time of year.”

Areas expected to reach 40 or 41 degrees today included Laidley, Gatton and Taroom.

It would be much the same tomorrow, she said.

There was a slight chance of storms in the south-east today and tomorrow but they were unlikely to bring much rain and there would be the added risk of dry lightning being an ignition source for fires.

“Thankfully the heat will not last too long. We are expecting a southerly change to push up the east coast from the latter parts of Tuesday into Wednesday and bring cooler temps to south-east Queensland,” she said.

Temperatures in Toowoomba will range from 15 to 36 degrees today, 19 to 34 tomorrow with a cool change coming Wednesday dropping temps to a more comfortable 14 to 26.

Gatton’s temps are to soar to 41 today after a minimum of 13, tomorrow should be 16 to 40 while Wednesday should be a much cooler 13 to 31.

Dalby will range from 15 to 38 today, 18 to 37 tomorrow, and 12 to 30 on Wednesday.

Warwick can expect temps of 12 to 38 today, 15 to 35 tomorrow and 11 to 28 on Wednesday.

Stanthorpe should be 12 to 34 today, 13 to 32 tomorrow but seven to 24 on Wednesday.

Goondiwindi is expected to reach 39 degrees today after a minimum of 18, then 20 to 33 tomorrow and 12 to 27 on Wednesday.

TEN TIPS TO STAY COOL

1. Drink plenty of fluids (but try to avoid dehydrating caffeine or alcoholic drinks).

2. Wander aimlessly around shopping centres.

3. Go see a movie (or three) at the cinema.

4. Keep a spray bottle of water in the fridge and give yourself a spray now and then.

5. Visit relatives and friends with air-conditioned homes.

6. Water pistol fight — but remember water restrictions!

7. Sit in an esky full of ice (but remove the stubbies first).

8. Do the washing, hang it out on the line and then take a nap under the Hills Hoist.

9. Attach fan to your iPhone.

10. While having regard for Tip 1, Oktoberfest is on.