The mercury is forecast to be 4 to 7 degrees Celsius above average ahead of a trough system, with Mount Isa set to peak at 42C.

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Felim Hanniffy said gusty northerly winds would come with the hot temperatures, leading to severe fire danger warnings for the Maranoa and Warrego, Darling Downs and Granite Belt and the Central Highlands and Coalfields.

“We’re looking at temperatures in the low 40s right the way from the northwest down through the central interior and even central inland will be in the high 30s, touching the low 40s,” Hanniffy said.

“Parts of the southeast inland will have temperatures in the high 30s, that’s over the Darling Downs.”

Hanniffy said temperatures along the coast would be “somewhat pared back” due to breezy conditions, but Brisbane was still forecast to hit 33C.

He said there was also a low chance of dry thunderstorms about the southeast this evening and the possibility of raised dust through parts of the southwest and southern interior as the change sweeps through.

“In light of recent rainfall amounts, it may not be as dry as for it to aid raised dust,” Hanniffy said.

“But there’s still a potential with the change to have a little dust haze through parts of the southwest as it comes in initially.”

The trough system is expected to push northwards on Friday, with conditions easing for the south and the west but driving up temperatures for northern parts.

“Temperatures across the northern interior and even parts of the north-east tropics could see anywhere from 3 to 6 degrees above average as well, so very, very hot conditions continuing for northern parts on Friday,” Mr Hanniffy said.

– ABC / Ashleigh Stevenson