BoM forecaster Chris Joseph said central and western Queensland was expected to exceed the 40-degree mark this weekend as warm and dry air washed pushed across the state by westerly winds. "There are still unstable conditions for much of the south-east [Wednesday] and into tomorrow, meaning there still the chance of a shower or storm," he said. Brisbane was expected to reach a top of 31 degrees on Wednesday and 33 degrees on Friday. Meanwhile, Ipswich and Beaudesert were forecast to hit 35 on Friday. "Winds will turn north-westerly so we will get drier, hotter air pushing through from inland areas towards the coast, which will cause an increase in daytime temperatures, which is why there will be temperatures in the 30s across the south-east," Mr Joseph said.

"There will be pretty stable conditions but pretty hot as well, with inland areas to see the hottest temperatures." The central Queensland town of Longreach was bracing for a maximum of 43 degrees on Sunday, the western Queensland city of Mount Isa was expecting 42 on Saturday and the western Queensland town of Birdsville was going for a top of 43 on Thursday and Friday. "There will be a pretty big change in temperatures at the start of next week, with temperatures to drop quite a bit," Mr Joseph said. "South-easterly winds will be pushing through, but not only that, we expect a bit more rain, especially on Monday and Tuesday. "So with the cooler south-easterly winds underneath the clouds, that's going to ... see a stark change in temperatures early next week."

Brisbane and Beaudesert were expected to drop down to a top of only 24 degrees by Monday and Ipswich was heading for a maximum of 23 by Monday. Birdsville was predicted to hit just 35 degrees on Sunday, while Mount Isa was forecast to nose-dive to a top of 37 and Longreach was going for a high of 38 on Tuesday. Mr Joseph said the chance of showers would return to the south-east courtesy of the arrival of an upper-level trough, with falls of up to 15 millimetres likely. Hail between two to three centimetres fell in Toowoomba about 7.30pm on Wednesday following a severe thunderstorm warning by the Bureau of Meteorology.

Earlier on Wednesday afternoon, BoM released an initial alert for severe thunderstorms, which were heading towards Somerset and Lockyer Valley areas. Damaging winds and large hailstones were expected after storms were detected on the weather radar west of Laidley and were moving towards the north.