Five south-east Queensland towns have sweltered through their warmest March day on record as the mercury surpassed 41 degrees during the heatwave peak Tuesday.

It comes after the town of Gatton broke the 40-degree barrier on Monday, which was the first time a part of south-east Queensland reached 40 degrees on a March day.

Thought Monday was hot? Tuesday's temperatures in the south-east beat them comfortably. Credit:Glenn Campbell

On Tuesday, the Ipswich suburb of Amberley reached 41.3 degrees just after 3pm, smashing its previous record for the warmest March day, which was 38.9 degrees in 1965.

Gatton, about 90 kilometres west of Brisbane, hit 41.1 degrees, surpassing its previous warmest March day, which occurred on Monday when the mercury reached exactly 40, Weatherzone meteorologist Kim Westcott said.