Plenty of September records could fall in the next few days, with the potential for one milestone to be broken twice in the same week, as south-east Queensland braces for the soaring temperatures to reach their peak.
However, Brisbane could escape the pinnacle of the sweltering conditions, with the Bureau of Meteorology watching whether a cooling sea breeze will reach the river city in time on Thursday.
BoM forecaster Rick Threlfall said Ipswich sweated through its warmest September day since 1943 on Monday with the mercury reaching 38.2 degrees. The maximum is forecast to be higher on Thursday with 40 degrees expected, which would be the hottest ever September day in Ipswich, surpassing the previous record of 39.2 in 1943.
Looking across the state, St George was forecast to hit 41 degrees and Cunnamulla was expected to reach 42 on Wednesday, both of which would break the previous record for the warmest September day in both towns. Birdsville was predicted to peak at 43 degrees, which would also be its hottest every September day.
Brisbane reached a top of 30.5 degrees on Tuesday and was expected to drop down to a maximum of 26 on Wednesday before peaking at 37 on Thursday, which would be more than 11 degrees above average for this time of year.
However, Mr Threlfall said a sea breeze could knock top temperatures down by more than five degrees in south-eastern coastal suburbs and, depending on when the cool change arrives, Brisbane could also fall short of the expected 37-degree mark.
Temperatures were predicted to steadily decrease over the weekend, as a south-easterly wind change arrives and brings cooler air inland off the sea.
Mr Threlfall said there was also the chance of showers early next week which would be "the best chance in a long while" of the south-east seeing significant rainfall.
The Queensland Fire and Emergency Service advised that a fire ban would be imposed from Wednesday to Saturday in the following areas: Sunshine Coast Council, Noosa Shire Council, Gympie Regional Council and South Burnett Regional Council.
In addition, a fire ban would also be in place from Thursday to Saturday in the following council areas: Moreton Bay, Brisbane, Redlands, Ipswich, Somerset, Lockyer Valley, Logan, Scenic Rim and the Gold Coast.
