Millions of Australians will battle a final blast of heat of the year as temperatures in one state rise to a sweltering 40C.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued a heatwave warning for residents of southeast Queensland on Saturday.
Ipswich is forecast to hit 40C, while the mercury will hit 37C in Brisbane, 36C on the Gold Coast and 35C on the Sunshine Coast.
Temperatures in Brisbane will drop slightly on Sunday with highs of 33C expected before cooler conditions set in ahead of New Year’s Eve.
The scorching heatwave will also see temperatures soar above 40 degrees in parts of western Queensland.
The inland town of Julia Creek, which is 250km east of Mount Isa, could reach maximum temperatures of 44C, while Birdsville, in the state’s south-west, will hit 36C.
The mercury in the small town, located near the border with South Australia, reached a staggering 47C on Boxing Day.
The heat wave warning, which was issued Friday, will remain in effect through Monday in the Sunshine State.
Millions of Australians will be affected by a sweltering heatwave, with temperatures in one Australian state reaching a scorching 40 degrees (pictured, beachgoers in Sydney)
Firefighters continue to battle catastrophic bushfires in the Grampian region (pictured) in northwest Victoria.
The warning is in place for the north-west, central west, Whitsundays, Darling Downs and south-east coastal districts of Queensland.
Daniel Hayes of the Bureau of Meteorology said parts of the south-east and coastal areas of the state could be hit by showers and storms on Saturday.
“We will have some activity in the southeast and it will potentially increase around the coast during New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day,” Hayes said. news wire.
Meanwhile, firefighters continue to battle catastrophic bushfires in the Grampian region of northwest Victoria.
The out-of-control fire has razed a massive 74,000 hectares of land, roughly the estimated size of Singapore.
The fire, which has grown rapidly in size after burning 6,000 hectares last week, has so far destroyed eight properties, including one residential property and six sheds.
All emergency warnings have been downgraded to watch and action alerts in and around western Victoria’s Grampians National Park, but the area from Long Gully Road to College Road remains unsafe.
Conditions in western Victoria are expected to remain stable and mild until Sunday, before westerly winds give way to warmer northerly winds on Monday.
The scorching heatwave will also see temperatures soar above 40 degrees in western parts of the Sunshine State (pictured, people on a Sydney beach).
Melbourne will reach high temperatures of 24C on Saturday, making conditions favorable for cricket fans attending the third day of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.
Temperatures in the city will reach a high of 25C on Sunday.
Adelaide will also reach 24C on Saturday before the mercury warms on Monday and Tuesday with forecast highs of 33C.
Temperatures in Sydney have dropped significantly with highs of 26C forecast for the rest of Saturday after Harbor City sweltered in 40C heat on Friday.
Temperatures will rise slightly with highs of 28°C and 27°C expected for Sunday and Monday.
Here, Daily Mail Australia reveals the forecast in your city for the remainder of 2024.
The out-of-control fire in Victoria (pictured) has razed a massive 74,000 hectares of land – about the estimated size of Singapore.
brisbane
Sunday: shower or two. Min 24. Max 33.
Monday: shower or two. Min 24. Max 31.
Tuesday: shower or two. Possible storm. Min 23. Max 30.
Sydney
Sunday: Sunny. Min 18. Max 28.
Monday: Partly cloudy. Min 20. Max 27.
Tuesday: Possible rain. Min 21. Max 28.
Temperatures across southeast Queensland will soar on Saturday; Ipswich will hit 40C, while Brisbane is forecast to hit highs of 37C (weather map pictured).
Canberra
Sunday: Sunny. Min 10. Max 29.
Monday: Partly cloudy. Min 13. Max 30.
Tuesday: Partly cloudy. Min 15. Max 31.
Melbourne
Sunday: Partly cloudy. Min 14. Max 25.
Monday: Partly cloudy. Min 14. Max 29.
Tuesday: Partly cloudy. Min 16. Max 27.
Temperatures in Sydney have dropped significantly with highs of 26C predicted for the rest of Saturday after Harbor City sweltered in 40C heat on Friday.
hobart
Sunday: Partly cloudy. Min 11. Max 22.
Monday: Possible development of rain. Min 12. Max 24.
Tuesday: Possible rain. Min 15. Max 22.
Adelaide
Sunday: Partly cloudy. Min 13. Max 26.
Monday: Mostly sunny. Min 14. Max 30.
Tuesday: sunny. Min. 15. Max. 30.
Adelaide will also reach 24C on Saturday before the mercury warms on Monday and Tuesday with forecast highs of 33C.
Perth
Sunday: Partly cloudy. Min 19. Max 31.
Monday: sunny. Min 17. Max 31.
Tuesday: sunny. Min 17. Max 35.
Darwin
Sunday: shower or two. Min 26. Max 35.
Monday: shower or two. Min 25. Max 35.
Tuesday: shower or two. Min 25. Max 34.