Millions of Aussies will struggle through the final heatwave of the year as temperatures in one state soar to a sweltering 40 degrees Celsius.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued a heatwave warning to residents of south-east Queensland on Saturday.
Ipswich is expected to reach 40 degrees Celsius, while the mercury will reach 37 degrees Celsius in Brisbane, on the Gold Coast and 35 degrees Celsius on the Sunshine Coast.
Temperatures in Brisbane will drop slightly on Sunday, with expected highs of 33ºC, before cooler conditions arrive ahead of New Year’s Eve.
The sweltering heatwave will also see temperatures well above 40 degrees in parts of western Queensland.
The outback town of Julia Creek, which lies 250 kilometers east of Mount Isa, could reach temperatures of 44 degrees Celsius, while Birdsville, in the state’s south-west, is expected to reach 36 degrees Celsius.
The mercury in the small town, which is close to the South Australian border, reached a staggering 47 degrees Celsius on Boxing Day.
The heatwave warning, which was issued on Friday, remains in effect in the Sunshine State until Monday.
Millions of Aussies will be hit by a sweltering heatwave, with temperatures reaching as high as 40 degrees in one Australian state (pictured, beachgoers in Sydney)
Firefighters continue to battle catastrophic bushfires in the Grampian region (pictured) of north-west Victoria
The warning applies to the North West, Central West, Whitsundays, Darling Downs and the south-east coast of Queensland.
Daniel Hayes from the Bureau of Meteorology said parts of the state’s south-east and coastal areas could be hit by showers and storms on Saturday.
“We will have some activity in the southeast and possibly increase around the coast through New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day,” Hayes said. Newswire.
Meanwhile, firefighters continue to battle catastrophic bushfires in the Grampian region of north-west Victoria.
The out-of-control fire has destroyed as much as 74,000 hectares of land, which is about the estimated size of Singapore.
The fire, which has rapidly increased in size after burning 6,000 hectares last week, has so far destroyed eight properties, including a house and six barns.
All emergency alerts have been downgraded to monitor warnings in and around the Grampians National Park in western Victoria, but the area from Long Gully Road to College Road remains unsafe.
Conditions in western Victoria are expected to remain calm and mild until Sunday, before westerly winds give way to warmer northerly winds on Monday.
The sweltering heatwave will also see temperatures well above 40 degrees in western parts of the Sunshine State (photo of people on a Sydney beach)
Melbourne will reach temperatures of 24 degrees Celsius on Saturday, making conditions favorable for cricket fans attending day three of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.
Temperatures in the city will reach highs of 25 degrees on Sunday.
Adelaide will also reach 24 degrees Celsius on Saturday before the mercury warms with highs of 33 degrees Celsius on Monday and Tuesday.
Temperatures across Sydney have dropped significantly, with highs of 26 degrees Celsius for the rest of Saturday, after 40 degrees Celsius heat scorched the Harbor City on Friday.
Temperatures will rise slightly with highs of 28C and 27C for Sunday and Monday.
Here, Daily Mail Australia reveals the forecast in your city for the rest of 2024.
The out-of-control fire in Victoria (pictured) has destroyed a vast area of 74,000 hectares, 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 thunderstorms. Min. 23. Max. 30.
Sydney
Sunday: Sunny. Min. 18. Max. 28.
Monday: Partly cloudy. Min. 20. Max. 27.
Tuesday: Possible showers. Min. 21. Max. 28.
Temperatures in south-east Queensland will rise on Saturday, with Ipswich reaching 40 degrees Celsius, while highs of 37 degrees Celsius are forecast in Brisbane (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 across Sydney have dropped significantly with highs of 26 degrees Celsius for the rest of Saturday after 40 degrees Celsius hit the Harbor City on Friday
Hobart
Sunday: Partly cloudy. Min. 11. Max. 22.
Monday: Possible development of showers. Min. 12. Max. 24.
Tuesday: Possible showers. 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 24 degrees Celsius on Saturday before the mercury warms with highs of 33 degrees Celsius on Monday and Tuesday
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.