'No reprieve in sight' to unseasonably hot winter weather as Australians told to prepare

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Unseasonably warm temperatures have hit much of Queensland and the weather bureau says there's no end in sight.  While it's technically still winter it feels more like summer, and parts of the state are already on alert for fires.

Transcript

00:00The slippers have been cast aside and bare feet are back.

00:07An unseasonably warm end to winter is bringing smiles across Queensland.

00:12Honestly it is very nice after a harsh Toowoomba winter.

00:15We moved up here recently.

00:17At the moment it will be freezing in Melbourne.

00:20I can't believe it.

00:21I actually...

00:22I think it just turned into summer.

00:24The Weather Bureau says temperatures in Central Australia have been up to 15 degrees above

00:30average.

00:31A series of troughs is now dragging the conditions east.

00:35Some places could see record-breaking winter heat.

00:39Very unusual to see such warm temperatures in August and particularly such a long spell

00:43of warm temperatures as well.

00:45On the Sunshine Coast, business is flourishing for this surf school.

00:49I think it's just full on.

00:51It's been one of our busiest winters for a long time.

00:53The weather has Gold Coasters stumped.

00:56I think it's an early spring by all accounts.

00:59It's brilliant, mate.

01:00As if today wasn't warm enough, parts of the state are expected to hit the mid-30s in the

01:05coming week, leaving many to wonder if this is winter, what does summer have in store

01:10for us?

01:11There'll be little change for days to come.

01:14So no end in sight to this warmer spell at this stage.

01:18It does look to be lasting through this week and even into the weekend.

01:21The southern interior is facing a high fire danger, though recent rain has reduced the

01:27risk.

01:28So that is helping to ease some of those fire dangers below what you might typically see

01:33in a windy and hot setup like we have at the moment.

01:35Isolated thunderstorms could pop up too.

01:38Queensland again proving it's capable of extreme weather at any time of year.

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