Heat to give way to more rain and storms in the south-east as school holidays kick off
This year, south-east Queensland has seen its highest storm activity since 2013. (Supplied: MBK Aerials)
In short
Storms and a drop in temperature have been forecast for parts of Queensland as school holidays begin for state schools.
It comes weeks after a series of severe storms and giant hail lashed the state's south-east.
What's next?
The Bureau of Meteorology says temperatures are expected to be "a little higher than average" between Christmas and New Year's Eve.
Parts of south-east Queensland can expect a slight easing of summer heat early this week, with the weather bureau forecasting temperatures to drop by up to 6 degrees Celsius in some areas.
Rain and storms are also expected across the state over the coming days.
The dreary weather comes as Queensland public schools let out for school holidays.
The lower temperatures are set to provide a reprieve for large parts of the state, which have been sweltering through higher than normal temperatures for this time of year.
A cool change is expected for parts of the south-east this week. (Supplied: Pat Cahill)
Cloud cover and change in temperature
Monday is forecast to bring cloud cover with a chance of isolated showers across the south-east.
Temperatures are expected to remain warm. Brisbane was forecast to hit a maximum of 34C, the Gold Coast 31C, and Maroochydore 32C.
Gladstone was forecast to reach a maximum of 32C, while temperatures were due to hit 37C in Longreach and Mt Isa.
Townsville, Mackay and Cairns were all forecast to reach a maximum of 33C.
Slow moving thunderstorms developed on Monday afternoon over parts of the state. Severe storm warnings for heavy rain were issued for the Central Highlands and Coalfields, Central West, Wide Bay and Burnett, Maranoa and Warrego, Darling Downs, Granite Belt, Western Downs and South Burnett areas.
The Bureau of Meteorology's Jordi Cairol said more rain was on the way on Tuesday.
The weather bureau is forecasting lower temperatures and more rain this week. (ABC News: Lucas Hill)
"We are expecting more showers and thunderstorms, particularly around the Sunshine Coast, which could have moderate falls of 20 to 25 millimetres," he said.
"Tuesday's cloud cover will also bring a significant change in temperature. It could drop 5 to 6 degrees, down to about 28C."
Mr Cairol said weather in the state's south-east was broadly expected to clear from Wednesday, with showers "less likely".
Severe storms forecast
While the weather is forecast to remain relatively mild in the south-east, Mr Cairol said things could be more extreme in central Queensland.
"We are expecting severe storms with a risk of heavy rainfall," he said.
"On Tuesday, it will extend towards the southern interior, even reaching the Sunshine Coast and Darling Downs and the New South Wales border."
Mr Cairol said the storms were forecast to bring heavy rainfall and damaging winds, but no hail was expected.
In north Queensland, the peak of severe heatwave conditions has passed, but low-intensity heatwave conditions will persist for the next few days.
Showers are expected in parts of north Queensland from Tuesday to Wednesday.
South-east still recovering from severe storms
Many residents are still feeling the effects of days of storms that lashed parts of the state, especially the south-east, in late November.
Thousands were left without power for days after strong winds, hail and flooding took out power infrastructure and damaged homes.
Six storms over the past three months have brought hail, with the state seeing more than double the usual occurrences of giant hail since July.
More giant hail than usual has been recorded since July. (Supplied: Kayleen Gordon)
Some of that hail has been especially large, with 14-centimetre hail recorded during a storm in November at Chandler, in Brisbane's south-east, and 11-centimetre hail falling on the city's bayside.
Despite the severe storms, Queensland's December rainfall is sitting slightly below average, while both maximum and minimum temperatures have been broadly above average.
What to expect this summer
Mr Cairol said the current forecast was not indicating extreme weather around the holiday period.
"For the next couple of weeks we are looking at an average chance of rain ... nothing unusual," he said.
"For the week from Christmas to New Year we are expecting temperatures to be a little higher than average ... temperatures have been slightly above average in general, particularly in western Queensland."