Records tumble in Northern heatwave...

CAIRNS, Mackay and Proserpine have endured their hottest days on record as a fierce heatwave blasts the Northern coast.

And there is no reprieve in sight, with temperatures expected to remain well above average for the next week.

Cairns reached a top of 42.6C today, eclipsing its previous all time high of 40.5C recorded in December 1995. The former November high was 37.2C.

The mercury rose even higher in Proserpine, reaching a high of 44.9C, smashing their all time record of 42.9C in December 1995. The previous November record was 41.2C.

Mackay reached a record high of 39.7C, beating the previous long-held high of 38.5C set in October 1955.

And Innisfail climbed to a record 42C, above their all time high of 40.3C in December 1984.

Townsville today reached 39.8C, which was not a record. The all time highest temperature for Townsville is 44.3C recorded in January 1994, and the November high is 41C, recorded in 1971.

Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Lachlan Stoney said there would be not much respite from the heat in the coming week.

“Things may cool down slightly, we we are still expecting heat wave conditions to prevail over the next seven days.

“Although Queensland is very hot at this time of year, these conditions are quite exceptional and pose a risk to health.”

Mr Stoney said there may be some rainfall around the Northern coast later this week, with the potential for storms in the Cairns area on Wednesday.

“There are a few storms popping up around Cairns in the afternoon and evening in the next couple of days.

“Wednesday will be a pretty big day in the north-east tropics, there may even be severe thunderstorms with damaging wind gusts.”

The conditions have prompted authorities to declare a total fire ban for much of the region.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) has imposed a local fire ban for north Queensland residents starting from Tuesday.

Residents in the Boulia, Burdekin, Burke, Carpentaria, Cloncurry, Diamantina, Doomadgee, Flinders, Hinchinbrook, McKinlay, Mornington Island, Mt Isa, Palm Island, Richmond and Townsville Local Government areas are impacted.

Fire bans are also in place in the Banana, Central Highlands, Gladstone, Isaac, Livingstone, Mackay, Rockhampton and Whitsunday Local Government areas.

This ban is expected to remain in place until Saturday.

The story Records tumble in Northern heatwave first appeared on North Queensland Register.