Inland heatwave sends blast of high temps to the C...

TEMPERATURES are set to spike considerably along the Sunshine Coast this week, but nothing like the unbearable heat that has descended over inland Queensland.

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Vinord Anand said a ridge on the Queensland east coast was slowly weakening, which would result in hot, dry air between it and an inland trough being dragged eastward into coastal areas.

The result would be weekend temperatures reaching 33C by Sunday on the Coast and warmer than that inland in places like Nambour.

Ipswich would be hotter still, heading to the high 30s with maximums of 36C and 37C on Sunday and Monday.

Sea breezes may cool things slightly on the Coast, but Mr Anand said the Channel Country and places like Birdsville and Boulia would reach the mid 40s ranging from 43C to 45C over several days and would be "unbearably hot”.

The Sunshine Coast could expect a 28C high today before heading into a weekend of temperatures three to five degrees above average.

Mostly sunny conditions with light winds throughout would be followed tomorrow by a partly cloudy day cooling the maximum to 27C.

Saturday, however, would hit 30C on a mostly sunny day with light winds giving way to northerlies at 15-20km/h, before becoming light again through the evening.

Maximum temperatures would spike to 33C on a sunny Sunday morning, signalling the start of a run of four days where overnight minimums would not drop below 20C.

There's a chance of an afternoon hinterland thunderstorm on a day of light winds increasing to 15-20km/h from the north, north-west.

Monday would be mostly sunny reaching 32C with winds to 20km/h from the northwest shifting northerly through the morning.

Tuesday would hit 31C in partly cloudy conditions with north, north-westerlies again to 20km/h with similar conditions Wednesday and a 32C maximum.