Hottest start to September tipped for this weekend but don’t call it a heatwave

Spring has sprung in Brisbane, bringing with it the possibility of the hottest start to the month this century.

While the temperature in the River City is expected to climb to 31 degrees on Thursday, the mercury is forecast to reach 9 degrees above average in Brisbane at the weekend.

On Friday, the maximum temperature is expected to stay in the 30s, with a high of 35 degrees predicted for Sunday.

Hot and dry conditions are expected throughout the rest of south-east Queensland.

Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Felim Hanniffy said there was the possibility of four days over 30 degrees in the first week of September, which would be the first time in at least 26 years.

The last time Brisbane sweltered through 30 degrees for three days in the first week of September was in 2019.

“Brisbane’s temperature very much will depend on the sea breeze,” Hanniffy said.

“So if the sea breeze comes in, then that could peg it back at a couple of degrees cooler.”

The average maximum temperature for Brisbane in September is 26 degrees.

The spate of hot weather will not be considered a heatwave, as it will not have sustained high temperatures overnight.

“To get a heatwave warning, you’d want to have both significantly warm overnight maximums and also daytime maximums as well,” Hanniffy said.

“So, this time around the days will be warmer [and] the nights, a little bit warmer, but still there’ll be a little bit of a fresher feel to the early mornings as well.

“But certainly the outlook as we go into the rest of spring are well above average temperatures and certainly increased potential for heatwaves as well.”