Queenslanders are bracing for a hot weekend, with high temperatures and severe thunderstorms forecast across the state. Liam Smart, a senior forecaster with the Bureau of Meteorology, described the upcoming weather as a "mixed bag."

"We've got the chance of severe thunderstorms across south-east Queensland with the chance of damaging winds and some large hail," Smart said. He noted that these storms could affect areas from the Gold Coast to the Sunshine Coast and extend inland toward Toowoomba.

In addition to thunderstorms, broad areas of thunderstorms are expected throughout the state, particularly in a band stretching to the far north-west, linked to an inland trough. Brisbane is predicted to reach 32 degrees Celsius today.

The Bureau of Meteorology has indicated that very high temperatures will persist across Queensland, with heatwave conditions likely in parts of the Gulf Country and north-west regions. "We've got temperatures which are four to eight degrees above average in a lot of places, and that's expected to continue through to around Tuesday when things start cooling off," Smart explained.

He added that Charleville could see temperatures six degrees above average, Toowoomba could be eight degrees above average, and Ipswich might also experience an increase of eight degrees above average. "There's quite a lot of heat hanging around," he said.

The weather bureau anticipates that the best chance for showers or rain will occur on Sunday. "Moving into Sunday, we do have a cloud band that will start pushing across mainly the southern parts of Queensland," Smart noted. This cloud band is expected to bring showers, particularly in the Maranoa, Darling Downs, and possibly into south-east Queensland, with an estimated 15 millimeters of rain possible throughout Sunday and into early Monday.

High fire dangers are also expected to remain a concern in the central and northern interior regions of Queensland. Residents are advised to stay alert and prepare for the extreme weather conditions ahead.