Large parts of eastern Australia will sweat through temperatures up to 40 degrees today, with extreme conditions forecast to last into the weekend.
Queensland is battling through its first heatwave of the season, while a total fire ban is in force in Sydney today.
The Bureau of Meteorology is warning Sydney and Brisbane residents to expect the mercury climbing over 30 degrees in coming hours.
But senior meteorologist Dean Narramore told Today this morning it will be much hotter across inland Queensland.
“We’re talking temperatures in the high 30s to low 40s, particularly through western Queensland.
“But that heat is even getting to south-east Queensland, it’s looking at around 33 degrees or 34 degrees in Brisbane today.”
Earlier, the bureau updated its heatwave warning for the state, with the extreme conditions forecast to continue into at least Sunday.
Temperatures are expected to ease for south-eastern regions, but for inland areas the searing heat will continue into next week.
Meanwhile, the combination of forecast temperatures above 30 degrees and gusty westerly winds has triggered a total fire ban for the Greater Sydney region.
The bureau issued a heatwave warning for the New South Wales Far North Coast.
The hot conditions for Sydney are forecast to ease tonight when a cool change begins.
Temperatures in the city tomorrow will plummet to 21 degrees.
