Hot and dry weather with dry storms are forecast as the battle against bushfires in Queensland enters a second week.

December 2, 2018

Queensland’s severe heatwave has spread south as the state’s bushfire crisis enters its second week and firefighters gear up for another day of volatile fire conditions.

More than 100 fires continue to burn across the state with temperatures forecast to soar over 40Cs in many inland districts on Sunday.

Bushfires at Deepwater and Eungella in central Queensland, as well as at Carnarvon in the southwest and on North Stradbroke Island, near Brisbane, remain the most concerning.

The Bureau of Meteorology says increased wind conditions combined with the hot and dry conditions has pushed the fire rating back to severe.

“This exceptional heat and fire event just keeps continuing, the records are just too numerous to mention,” meteorologist Bruce Gunn said. 

“There is still some days to go until we some relief … there is no significant rain on the horizon especially in central Queensland before Tuesday.” 

Forecast thunderstorms for Sunday won’t produce rain but are expected to start more fires due to “dry lightning”, Mr Gunn said.

It comes as a tropical low off the state’s northeast coast with a chance of becoming a cyclone heads southwest towards Cairns, Mr Gunn said.

QFES Commissioner Katarina Carroll says “concerning” days lay ahead for Queensland.

“We’re not out of the woods … it is a moving feast, the change of the winds present those challenges and the heatwave, and when you put all of this together it is a difficult concoction to deal with,” she said.

More than 400 interstate firefighters are battling the bushfires with the help of 20 aircraft.

The bushfire crisis saw its first loss of life on Friday night, with the death of a 21-year-old man at Rolleston, south of Emerald.

He was using a chainsaw to cut down a tree for a firebreak when the tree fell on him.