There is a high chance of lightning strike fires around the New South Wales-Queensland border as thunderstorms develop in heatwave conditions, meteorologists have warned.
Senior meteorologist Dean Narramore from the Bureau of Meterology said Thursday would mark another hot and windy day for southern Queensland and northern NSW, where crews are attending a number of fires – including the blaze at Dirranbandi, which has been downgraded to advice level and residents told to return with caution.
People in the border region can expect temperatures in the high 30s to low 40s, with “fresh and gusty winds”, Narramore said.
North-western NSW has been given an extreme fire danger forecast for Thursday, covering Moree Plains, Narrabri, Walgett and Warrumbungle. A total fire ban was in place for the region, as well as the upper central west plains.
Meanwhile, most of Queensland had a high danger rating, except for parts of the far north and south-east.
Dirranbandi, where more than 500 residents were forced to evacuate as two fast-moving grassfires threatened the town, was forecast to reach a top of 41C on Thursday.
Longreach and Winton, further inland, were both set to hit 43C, while Brisbane had a sunny forecast of 33C.
This comes after heatwave conditions on Wednesday, with Thargomindah in the state’s south-west corner reaching 45.1C, according to Weatherzone.
On the NSW side of the border, Moree was forecast to hit 41C and Lightning Ridge 40C. Sydney had a milder forecast of 29C with a high chance of showers.
Showers and thunderstorms were expected to develop across the border region throughout the afternoon, posing the risk of lightning strike fires.
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“It’s looking like there will be at least some moisture with these storms, so hopefully some rainfall will put out any fires that are started by any lightning,” Narramore said.
“Some of those storms in NSW could be severe, with damaging winds, large hail and heavy rainfall.”
NSW residents can expect some relief on Friday, according to forecasts, as the heat contracts into northern Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia – where heatwave warnings persist.
“For northern parts of WA, much of the NT and pretty much most of Queensland – away from south-east Queensland – we’ve got the heat continuing right through the coming days, across the weekend, and probably even into early next week as well,” Narramore said.
Temperatures in the high 30s to low 40s were expected across much of the Pilbara, parts of the Kimberly and large parts of the NT.
On Wednesday, Port Hedland reached 45.1C before 2pm, according to Weatherzone.
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