QUEENSLAND doctors are warning there is a "serious threat to human life" from a heatwave cooking the state this week.

HOW HOT IS IT WHERE YOU ARE?

The Australian Medical Association Queensland describes heatwaves as the most deadly natural phenomenon in Australia, claiming around 500 lives each year.

Temperatures across the state today will hit 43 degrees in some places.

Dr Richard Kidd, a Brisbane GP and AMA Queensland board member, said people should be concerned by extreme temperatures and follow medical advice.

"The public needs to realise that extreme heat is a killer and take warnings seriously," Dr Kidd said.

"Hundreds die each year as a direct result of heat and the peak time for deaths is right now.

"This is a very dangerous time, especially for vulnerable groups such as the elderly, babies, pregnant women, breast-feeding mothers and the sick."

Much of central and northern Queensland will experience 'extreme' and 'severe' heatwave conditions for the next few days, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

AMA Queensland urges people to follow this advice:

Stay hydrated and drink plenty of water - even if you do not feel thirsty.

Spend as much time as possible in air-conditioned surroundings.

Keep cool by using wet towels and taking cool showers.

Stay out of the sun during the hottest parts of the day.

If you have to go outside, stay in the shade and take water with you.

Wear a hat and light, loose-fitting clothing.

The symptoms of heat exhaustion include a pale complexion, sweating, rapid heart rate, muscle cramps, weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting and fainting.

Patients suffering these symptoms should seek a cool area, lie down, drink cool water, remove their outer clothing and contact their GP.

If left untreated, heat exhaustion can lead to heat stroke - involving possible seizure, collapse and loss of consciousness.

Call an ambulance immediately in such cases.



See below for the maximum temperatures and conditions from the Bureau of Meteorology.

Southeast Coast

Caloundra 30 °C Mostly sunny.



Gatton 36 °C Hot and sunny.



Gold Coast Seaway 30 °C Mostly sunny.



Ipswich 34 °C Mostly sunny.



Maleny 29 °C Mostly sunny.



Maroochydore 31 °C Mostly sunny.



Nambour 31 °C Mostly sunny.



Noosa Heads 29 °C Mostly sunny.



Caboolture 31 °C Mostly sunny.



Darling Downs and Granite Belt

Dalby 37 °C Sunny.



Goondiwindi 39 °C Hot and sunny.



Toowoomba 31 °C Sunny.



Warwick 34 °C Sunny.



Chinchilla 37 °C Sunny.



Miles 37 °C Sunny.



Oakey 35 °C Sunny.



Stanthorpe 33 °C Mostly sunny.



Wide Bay and Burnett

Bundaberg 31 °C Partly cloudy.

Gympie 34 °C Mostly sunny.

Hervey Bay 31 °C Partly cloudy.

Kingaroy 33 °C Mostly sunny.

Maryborough 32 °C Partly cloudy.

Gayndah 35 °C Cloud clearing.

Monto 35 °C Partly cloudy.



Capricornia

Gladstone 31 °C Partly cloudy.

Rockhampton 33 °C Partly cloudy.

Biloela 36 °C Mostly sunny.

Yeppoon 29 °C Partly cloudy.



Central Highlands and Coalfields

Emerald 36 °C Mostly sunny.



Blackwater 36 °C Mostly sunny.



Clermont 36 °C Mostly sunny.



Dysart 35 °C Mostly sunny.



Moranbah 36 °C Mostly sunny.



Rolleston 37 °C Sunny.



Springsure 36 °C Sunny.



Taroom 37 °C Sunny.





Central Coast and Whitsundays

Mackay 32 °C Partly cloudy.



Bowen 31 °C Partly cloudy.



Carmila 32 °C Partly cloudy.



Hamilton Island 31 °C Partly cloudy.



Proserpine 34 °C Partly cloudy.



Maranoa and Warrego