Queensland is on the verge of a heatwave and further damaging thunderstorms, as the government seeks to support residents who have been pushed to the brink.
Six people have died and many thousands of homes have been impacted by weather events throughout the holiday period.
More than 27,000 households are still affected, many without power in their homes, with Energex saying only 80 per cent of services had been restored in Queensland’s southeast by Saturday morning.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued a warning for a three-day heatwave extending through the New Year, with temperatures climbing into the mid-40s in western and central Queensland.
Overnight, temperatures are forecast to sit in the low to high twenties across the state, with conditions beginning to ease in the southeast of the state on Sunday.
Burketown, Charters Towers, Cloncurry, Longreach, Mount Isa, Normanton and Winton are all expected to feel the brunt of the heatwave, with residents urged to seek out cool areas, close windows, draw blinds and use fans or airconditioning units.
Alongside high temperatures, two separate thunderstorm warnings were issued, forecasting damaging winds, large hail and heavy rain.
Thunderstorms touched down in the southeast of the state early on Saturday, with the Bureau confirming the storms were making their way further east.
Brisbane City, Sunshine Coast, Somerset, Moreton Bay and Toowoomba residents have been told to prepare for power outages, warned to stay in doors and avoid driving or parking cars under trees.
To help support those affected, the Queensland government is offering personal hardship payments for eligible residents Logan City Council and Scenic Rim Regional Council areas.
Individuals can receive a grant of $180, and a family of five or more can demand up to $900 to go towards essential items like food, clothing and medicine.
Homeowners can also apply for a structural assistance grant of up to $50,000 for an uninsured home or for owners who have become “income-tested” as a result of damage to their home.
The grants have been made available through the Commonwealth State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, with further plans to funding for reconstruction projects in affected areas.
Queensland federal minister for emergency management Murray Watt said the grants act as extended assistance for Queenslanders in the southeast.
“These payments will help those experiencing hardship due to the storms, as well as supporting clean up and repair efforts for entire communities,” Mr Watt said.
Anyone impacted financially by the storms so far is urged to call the Queensland Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349 to access support.
Originally published as Queenslanders to be hit with heatwave in the north and thunderstorms in the southeast