Australia Weather News

The heatwave gripping Queensland is set to intensify on Friday before a cooler change sweeps through in time for the Australia Day long weekend.

Temperatures of up to 37 degrees Celsius are expected in Brisbane, while some Gold Coast suburbs could hit 35C degrees.

"There is a broader southerly change which is forecast to move through south eastern [Queensland] late today and into early Saturday," Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Sarah Scully said.

"That will help return the temperatures to closer to average … easing heatwave conditions."

The heatwave conditions have been caused by a prolonged period of clear skies across much of Australia, which has heated up land areas and allowed for temperatures to build.

Western Queensland is expected to be the hottest part of the state, with Longreach and Winton both reaching up to 46C degrees.

A slight reprieve is expected in the coming days, but temperatures will remain in the 40s in parts of western Queensland well into next week.

Heatwave conditions in north Queensland will ease from late in the weekend as rainfall begins.

There is the chance of a thunderstorm in south-east Queensland from late on Friday morning.

Wild weather

Residents of Kaimkillenbun, north-west of Toowoomba, were surprised by a wild storm that tore through the rural town on Thursday, knocking over trees and sending unsecured items flying.

Resident Lee Mansfield was at home when the storm rolled in and described "funnel-shaped" clouds.

"I've been through a few storms here but I haven't really seen anything like it before," he said.

The supercell storm was caused by high temperatures and moisture in the air, according to the Bureau.

"We saw footage of a funnel cloud … a sort of triangular cloud formation which can form underneath particularly strong supercell thunderstorms," senior meteorologist Rosa Hoff said.

"They are distinct from tornadoes in that they don't make the ground, and they don't have the same strength of winds associated with them."

Ms Scully said there was a risk of more severe supercell storms on Friday across the Wide Bay and Burnett, as well as inland parts of the Capricornia.

Calls for help

The southern Gold Coast and Tweed region were also hit by damaging early morning thunderstorms.

The SES said it received 13 calls for help on the Gold Coast, mainly for fallen trees and issues with roofs.

City of Gold Coast local disaster coordinator Mark Ryan said residents should be prepared for storms.

"We're starting to see that severe to extreme heatwave starting to hit the south east coast," Mr Ryan said.

"So whilst the chance of storms are low what we start to see is if storms do occur they can be quite severe."

Heaving beaches

Amidst the hot conditions, Surf Lifesaving Queensland is preparing for packed beaches over the Australia Day long weekend.

Beachgoers are urged to swim between the flags and keep an eye on children around the water.