Bus drivers were ordered to turn off airconditioning between routes as the temperature soared in Brisbane at the weekend.

The State Government Transport Operations Regulation states that if the Bureau of Meteorology forecast maximum temperatures of at least 28 degrees, drivers must turn on the airconditioning in the buses.

Brisbane City Council buses at Virginia bus depot. Credit:Michelle Smith

A Bureau of Meteorology spokesman confirmed that Brisbane's maximum temperature reached 31.5 degrees on Saturday and 32.5 degrees on Sunday, after forecasts of 31 degrees for Saturday and 33 degrees for Sunday.

The weekend heat prompted bus drivers to ignore signs at terminuses ordering them to switch off their engines after 30 seconds as they wanted to keep the airconditioning running.