Heatwave is here to stay
Temperatures to remain in 30s this week
IF YOU thought the weekend’s sizzling temperatures were the last of the spring heatwave, think again.
Records were set across the Darling Downs this past weekend as the mercury soared after what had been a blustery period of hibernation for many in Toowoomba over winter.
Toowoomba had its hottest September day since 2013 yesterday, reaching a high of 33.3 degrees.
“Some of the other locations in the Darling Downs haven’t quite hit those temperatures,” Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Michelle Berry said.
The stand-out however, was Gatton.
“Gatton got to 38.7 which is their hottest September day on record,” Ms Berry said.
“Many of the locations on the Downs all recorded their hottest September day.”
The sizzling heat came on the back of a storm on Friday night that lit up the skies of Toowoomba.
That weather system (pictured), was captured by The Chronicle photographer Kevin Farmer, who snapped the amazing image at Laurel Bank.
While the storm may have plagued havoc with the social plans of residents, it sure did put on a spectacular show.
Those scenes are unlikely to grace our skies again this week with any potential storms missing Toowoomba, despite a small chance of rainfall, according to Ms Berry.
“There is a slight chance of a shower and we have some coming west of Warwick,” she said.
“Most of them will be south of Toowoomba so we are not anticipating it to generate much rainfall.”
What the Bureau of Meteorology is anticipating is more warm weather.
Forecasts for this week indicate that the spring heatwave will be sticking around, with some reprieve coming at the weekend.
“There’s a series of troughs moving east across the interior of the state and that wind direction is coming off the continent which will prolong the period of heat,” Ms Berry said.
“(For the week ahead) there will be some very hot conditions and enhanced fire dangers. We have a fire warning for today and we will likely see them through to Thursday.”
Tomorrow’s temperature will hit a high of 34 in Toowoomba.