Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au

Aaron Bunch
Queensland’s north bakes in extreme heat

An extreme heatwave in Queensland’s north is expected to push temperatures much higher than average for the next week.

November 27, 2018

Queensland’s north will continue to bake this week as temperature records topple.

Proserpine recorded a record 44.9C on Monday – 13 above the November average.

At Cairns airport the mercury hit a record 42.6 and Townsville sweltered through its hottest November day for 28 years. 

Cooktown, Innisfail and Mackay also recorded temperatures up to 10 degrees higher than average for this time of year.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a three-day severe-to-extreme heatwave warning for much of the state’s north and temperatures are not expected to return to normal until next week.

Cairns is forecast to reach 40 on Tuesday and Townsville 39.

“It’s a very unusual pattern to have in November so we did see a fair few records broken because of that,” meteorologist Harry Clark told AAP on Tuesday.

Hot interior air pushed west towards the Queensland coast by a low-pressure system in southern Australian has “stagnated and got even warmer”, Mr Clark said.

“And now it’s not going anywhere.”

Conditions are so hot, bats are falling from trees in the Cairns area.

It’s prompted health authorities to warn locals not to touch the injured animals after a spate of bites.

Conditions for firefighters have improved in fire-ravaged central Queensland, however, with lower temperatures forecast for Tuesday and winds easing.

“Today is not looking as bad as yesterday but by tomorrow we’ll see those really dry gusty westerly winds return, so we’ll see fire danger once again increase over that fire ground,” Mr Clark said.

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