Australia Weather News

Queensland is preparing for the hottest Ekka week since 1946 and facing warmer-than-average temperatures throughout the state over the next three months.

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Diana Eadie said show-goers at the first post-war exhibition experienced highs of 30 and 33 degrees Celsius, while this year a high of 31C is predicted.

But temperatures this month have not topped the hottest August on record — that was in 2009, with an average of 25.51C, and top of 35.4C.

The above-average Ekka week comes after Queensland experienced the warmest July on record, with near or lower-than-average rainfall for most of the state.

In July Queensland recorded a mean temperature of 26.5C — above the long-term average recorded across the state.

Flowers blooming too early for festival

To Brisbane's west, Toowoomba is faring slightly better, but is still experiencing unseasonably warm weather.

The high of 28C on Tuesday was still four degrees below the city's August record.

"We're a little bit below record-setting temperatures," BOM forecaster Diana Eadie said.

"But it's still certainly exceptionally warm, almost 10C above the average for this time of year."

The heat is having a direct impact on the nation's award-winning Carnival of Flowers in Toowoomba.

Organisers of the garden festival, which attracts 100,000 visitors to the city each September, have tweaked their horticultural strategy to delay the flowers blooming before the event starts mid-month.

Council horticulturalist Karl Grams said the cold mornings and warm days are throwing the plants out of whack.

Their growth has been accelerated, forcing gardeners to pinch off their buds this week to prevent a mass blooming.

"Its quite a tedious job," Mr Grams said.

"You hold the plants back, so hopefully the next bloom will be just perfect for September 15, when the big day comes along.

"What would be welcome now is some beautiful rain because it is very dry, but mother nature has the last word, doesn't she?"

ABC