Severe heatwave warning

TEMPERATURES will soar by 14C in a matter of days – to as high as a scorching 46C – as a horror heatwave sets in this week.

The Bureau of Meteorology has warned Queenslanders of an impending “severe heatwave” which is expected to catapult temperatures up to 12C above the November average and potentially break records.

Forecaster Peter Markworth said temperatures had started rising yesterday and are expected to reach sweltering highs of up to 46C by early next week.

The bureau is predicting temperatures will increase by up to 14C between today and Monday as a “severe heatwave” builds.

“By Monday we could see temperatures 10 degrees above average, potentially up to 12 to 13 degrees above average … which puts us in temperature ranges around 45, 46 degrees.”

“These temperatures are well above average, a few records could fall down.”

Already yesterday, Lake Julius had hit 39.1C while Cloncurry, Longreach and Winton had all topped 37C.

“As we move forward we are just generally expecting those warmer temperatures particularly down south and through the southwest to gradually increase as we go towards the weekend,” Mr Markworth said.

“Going to Sunday and Monday we see those temperatures push across to the southeast coast.”

Townsville temperatures should increase slightly over the weekend to tops of 31C on Sunday and Monday.

Charters Towers hit a high of 34 yesterday and should increase to 38C by Tuesday while Ingham will hit a peak of 33C next Wednesday after a wet weekend.

Ayr will hit top of 32C by Monday also.