Storms expected to lash Queensland on Friday followed by weekend heatwave

In a sign of summer’s rapid approach, a heatwave is set to hit large parts of central and southern Queensland this weekend.

The mercury is expected to peak at up to five or 10 degrees above the November average, with a cool change not likely to arrive until the middle of next week.

Peter Markworth from the Bureau of Meteorology said there were would be “a few pleasant days” for the south-east before conditions took a turn.

“It’s quite a rapid increase [in temperature], particularly on Saturday,” he said.

“Those warmer conditions up around 33 degrees Celsius, 32C on Sunday and then subsequently…