Queenslanders are rejoicing after Christmas Day brought much-needed rainfall to the south-east and Wide Bay-Burnett region, but inhabitants of the state's hottest town once again sweltered through lunch at the pub.

Key points: Some areas in the south-east have recorded over 60mm of rainfall

Some areas in the south-east have recorded over 60mm of rainfall The weather bureau says rain is travelling up the north of the state

The weather bureau says rain is travelling up the north of the state Central Queensland is in for some cooler weather by Friday

On Thursday the highest rainfall total was recorded in the north Burnett region, which received almost 120 millimetres, while parts of the Scenic Rim recorded up to 60mm.

At a cattle farm at Theodore, west of Bundaberg, a family recorded 28mm and said it was "the best Christmas ever".

Residents of a property at Thangool, near Biloela, emptied 43mm from their rain gauges.

Troye Mayes said his property near Taroom received 52mm in 40 minutes. ( Facebook: Troy Mayes )

Troy Mayes said the storm caused some damage at his property in Taroom but it was the "biggest single fall of rain in two years".

Karen Mayes cattle stud at Chilgerrie Hill had not received decent rainfall since October 2018.

She reported 50 millimetres which came through between 3 and 4 o'clock on Christmas Day.

The stud has been buying truck loads of hay to feed cattle from South Australia and Victoria.

"We are all in a big bad way and have been waiting for the rain so badly," she said.

"It ran straight back into the ground but the dam has got some water in it which is amazing."

Karen Mayes says this is the first time in several months since the dam has had any water. ( Facebook: Karen Mayes )

Further south in the coastal areas including Brisbane, Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast, light showers lingered throughout the morning.

However, the rain is unlikely to return before the new year.

Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) forecaster Lauren Pattie said more storms could develop in the north of the state on Thursday afternoon.

"Particularly the Atherton Tablelands so you might see some more hail and the odd wind gust. Inland central Queensland between Yeppoon and Fraser Island are also set to get more rain," Ms Pattie said.

At Guluguba, west of Gympie, this property was soaked by 30mm of rain. ( Facebook: Lisa Stiller )

While the cool weather made the Christmas roast more bearable for some, the rest of Queensland sweltered.

The central and western parts of Queensland saw temperatures 5 to 8 degrees Celsius above their December average.

Birdsville hit its forecast maximum of 45C, and on Christmas Eve it reached 49.3C just after 3:00pm, only 0.2 degrees short of matching Queensland's hottest day on record.

Christmas Eve inside the air-conditioned Birdsville pub while the town hit 49.3C. ( ABC News: Maddelin McCosker )

Mount Isa and Longreach also reached maximums of 45C on Thursday.

Despite the heat, Birdsville Hotel manager Ben Fullager said locals found ways to enjoy the Christmas festivities.

Ben Fullager says locals will cool off with a swim at the town's Pelican Point. ( ABC News: Maddelin McCosker )

Birdsville resident Don Rowlands said the heat did not bother locals like him.

"I've lived here all my life — 70-plus years — and the heat has always been the same," Mr Rowlands said.

"I'm used to the heat and the weather — obviously we would rather not have 48, 49 [degrees], but it's the way it is."

Don Rowlands says he's lived in Birdsville for 70-plus years. ( ABC News: Maddelin McCosker )

Cooler change on the way

However, the same upper trough bringing clouds to the south-east will drag temperatures down in central parts of the state later in the week, BOM forecaster Gabriel Branescu said.

"As from today, those hot temperatures will start contracting to the [Northern Territory] border," Mr Branescu said.

"We saw nine, 10 degrees above average for Birdsville, but that will drop to about 3 or 4 degrees above average.

"By Friday, we are looking at cooler temperatures — cooler than average — around the state."

Dashboard display in car reads 50C while driving into Birdsville on Christmas Eve. ( ABC News: Maddelin McCosker )

The cool change will bring fire danger ratings down right along the coast but the Granite Belt and Darling Downs will remain at a very high danger rating.

While it is still too early to know exactly what the weather holds for New Year's Eve, the BOM has predicted rains to linger over northern parts of Queensland, with fine conditions in the south-east.