Residents told to prepare to leave as fires start across Queensland

A wave of scorching weather has swept across much of Queensland, with residents in several towns affected by nearby bushfires.

Much of Queensland's south experienced temperatures well above average today.

Just after 11am, temperatures peaked at 31C in Brisbane, about 4 degrees above the normal average for this time of year (27C).

Ipswich reached 39.7C while Gatton was the hottest in the state at 41.9C.

Residents in the Lockyer Valley as well as in Mount Morgan, near Rockhampton were warned to prepare to leave in case bushfires near them worsened.

A bushfire near Lefthand Branch in the Lockyer Valley was this afternoon burning easterly near Cole Gully Road.

The Mount Morgan fire is burning in the Leydens Hill area, near Taylor Street, Corry Lane, Lundager Road, Leydens Hill Road and Street Street. The Burnett Highway is closed at the top of the range.

"Any fire that starts is going to run very hard, there is just no moisture in the vegetation," Neil Gallant from Queensland Fire and Emergency Services said.

"Know where your children are, make sure they're not playing with matches."

On Tuesday a cold front is expected to move from the southwest into Queensland, bringing with it gusty southwesterly winds.

These conditions combined with the large warm airmass already situated over the state, is forecast to raise the mercury to 36C in the Brisbane city.

This would be 9 degrees above the October average and if it occurs, would be the hottest October day in 14 years for Brisbane. 

While some storms are also forecast over the next few days they will come with little moisture, increasing the threat of dry lightning strikes.

The BoM said conditions should ease from Wednesday with a southerly change moving up the coast.