Heatwave continues with Queensland and NT set to swelter through weekend
Parts of northern Australia will be baking in a severe heatwave this weekend, with authorities advising people to stay indoors amid fears of a spike in heat-related illnesses.
The Bureau of Meterology issued warnings yesterday relating to severe heatwave conditions in Queensland and the Northern Territory lasting from today to Sunday.
"Severe heatwave conditions are building over northern, central and eastern Queensland, and are expected to persist until a milder southerly change contracts the severe heatwave conditions to the far north of the state early next week," the BoM said.
READ MORE: Mercury soars as hot air mass suffocates parts of Queensland
The sun turns the early morning sky red as it breaks through clouds on Queensland's Gold Coast. iStock
Maximum temperatures are expected to hit the low 40s in parts of northern Queensland and the Northern Territory.
Meteorologist Angus Hines said northern Australia was also set to suffer through stiflingly hot overnight temperatures with minimums in the mid-twenties.
"The heat waves have set in for the rest of this week, the weekend and potentially out to next week as well," he said.
"We've got hot days and we've also got very hot nights."
Heatwave warnings are in place for parts of northern Queensland and the Northern Territory this weekend. Bureau of Meteorology
The hot air mass has already broken records.
The outback town of Birdsville in south-west Queensland recorded its hottest October day on Tuesday when the mercury spiked at a blistering 46 degrees.
In Queensland's outback town of Julia Creek, temperatures are predicted to hit 43 on both Saturday and Sunday.
In the Northern Territory, locations likely to be most impacted by the heatwave include Berry Springs, Humpty Doo, Nauiyu, Timber Creek and Litchfield National Park.
What to do in a heatwave
Severe heatwaves can be dangerous for many people, especially older people, babies, children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, people with medical conditions and people who are unwell.
- Seek a place to keep cool, such as your home, a library, community centre or shopping centre.
- Close your windows and draw blinds, curtains or awnings early in the day to keep the heat out of your home.
- If available, use fans or air-conditioners to keep cool.
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