Australia Weather News

Storms are expected to continue across parts of Queensland this weekend, while a heatwave in the state's north-west could deliver temperatures in the mid-to-high 40s.

About 1,600 properties were left without power in the South Burnett, north-west of Brisbane, after damaging weather overnight, with electricity not expected to be restored until Friday afternoon.

South Burnett Mayor Kathy Duff said big storms, on top of the wet season's usual rainfall, were becoming "very, very problematic".

"We had more rain in the month of December than we normally get in half a year," she said.

Parts of the Queensland coast also copped a drenching this week, with 60 millimetres of rain falling in just half an hour over Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast and 64 millimetres at North Stradbroke Island in less than an hour on Thursday.

Dunwich Airport, also on North Stradbroke, saw 132 millimetres in the two hours to 4:46am on Friday while the island's Herring Lagoon recorded 93 millimetres in the hour leading up to 5:09am — with BOM warning the heavy rainfall "may lead to flash flooding".

Daniel Hayes from the Bureau of Metereology (BOM) said a "continuation of the shower and storm activity" impacting the south-east and central Queensland was likely. 

He predicted the Darling Downs and Wide Bay could also see widespread falls.

"[We're] going to see probably quite a few places that do push up into that 30-50 millimetre range," Mr Hayes said.

"Heavier falls out of thunderstorms [this] weekend … could push into 50-100 millimetres, or even a little bit higher, in isolated areas."

When will the rain stop?

Mr Hayes said the more widespread rain would ease once the current trough moves on. 

He forecasted potentially damaging winds and hail could result from storms continuing into Sunday, with "perhaps a bit less" wet weather on Monday.

"We will still have the potential for severe storms in the mix through the start of next week, and we could still see some isolated falls that are quite heavy," he said.

"So overall, potentially a bit of an easing from Sunday, but still likely to be quite active around the place."

Rain could threaten the Magic Millions race-day this weekend, but Mr Hayes said the Gold Coast hasn't seen any particularly big falls yet.

"The period through overnight and into tomorrow is probably going to be the wetter period," he said.

"But we are potentially going to see some more [rainfall] with that upper level trough being active."

He advised locals stay across weather warnings in case of riverine or flash flooding.

Hot weekend ahead for north-west

Urandangi and Julia Creek could see the mercury rise to 46 degrees Celsius on Friday, with 44 forecast in Mount Isa and Longreach.

"Pretty much right through that area — in the north-west, the central west, and down into the channel country — mid 40s [are predicted] over the next few days," Mr Hayes said.

"May even get as warm as 47 [at] Urandangi tomorrow."

The heatwave conditions are expected to peak on Saturday, with "a relative easing" still bringing above average temperatures through Sunday and Monday.

"We're still talking probably 40-plus degrees [but likely] more around about the low 40s," Mr Hayes said.

The heatwave could push towards the east coast, but for now BOM is forecasting the severity will ease after the weekend.