Australia Weather News

Severe thunderstorms bringing strong winds and large hailstones are forecast to hit large parts of Queensland today.

Damaging storms are forecast from the New South Wales border, west to the Darling Downs and all the way up the coast to the Capricornia, Mackay and the Central Highlands.

There won't be any relief tomorrow as the risk of severe storm activity peaks and a surface trough moves across the state.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has warned that a storm supercell on Saturday could bring giant hail, destructive winds and flash flooding to the same areas at risk of activity today.

Weather patterns could be similar to those that wreaked havoc on Brisbane last weekend.

The areas of most concern from today through to the weekend are the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Sunshine Coast.

It will still be hot and sticky weather in the south-east, with tops of 27 degrees Celsius on the Gold Coast and 28C in Brisbane.

"We have a number of surface troughs sitting across eastern parts of the state, and that is generating quite a bit of shower activity," BOM forecaster Jonathan How said.

"We also have some fairly humid air pushing down south-eastern parts of Queensland."

Mr How said it was a typical weather pattern for this time of year, with south-east Queensland squarely in summer storm season.

But he urged Queenslanders to take care, prepare their properties and keep an eye on severe-weather warnings.

Storms are expected to hit impacted areas from about lunchtime today.

Mr How said that if there was cloud cover this morning, people could expect weaker storms than if early conditions were fine and sunny.

Heat continues

Far North Queensland can expect to continue to sweat through today, with heatwave conditions forecast for anywhere north of Cairns.

Day and night-time temperatures are forecast to be above average for this time of year for FNQ, with Cairns headed for a top of 33C.

Heatwave conditions will be most oppressive through the far west of the state, into the Channel Country.

"[It will be] very, very hot in the west, with temperatures reaching the high 30s, to early 40s over multiple days," Mr How said.

Birdsville is expected to peak at 40C today and 42C on Sunday.

Mr How said heatwave conditions would likely extend to Emerald, Roma and Charleville over the weekend.

There are a few storms forecast for the north Queensland coast today, between Townsville and Cairns, but they should not be anywhere near as dangerous as those forecast further south.

The BOM has predicted that temperatures across the state will gradually start to fall in the second half of next week.