About heatwave warnings and heat health messaging

You may receive heatwave warnings through the Bureau of Meteorology (Bureau) app or see heatwave forecasts from the Bureau online.

Queensland Health issues a heatwave warning on Queensland Health’s Newsroom when the Bureau advises an extreme heatwave is impacting or predicted to impact parts of Queensland. This is the highest level of heatwave.

A heatwave warning, for extreme heatwaves, notifies the community, local governments, hospital and health services, and community services of the risk. This will usually be identified with a red triangle.

For other levels of heatwave, such as low or severe, Queensland Health will share a variety of heat health messages as well as across the heatwave season. You may see heat health messages from Queensland Health, your local Hospital and Health Service (HHS) or spokesperson, or the Queensland Ambulance Service.

Heat health messaging informs of the likely impact on people’s health and what actions they should take to keep safe.

You may also hear stories in the media, or weather forecasts, about single days with high temperatures, but that are not classified as a heatwave. Messaging will generally not be circulated for these days.

Understanding heatwaves

There are 3 heatwave levels: low, severe and extreme. You may recognise these on the maps from the Bureau as yellow, orange and red areas.

Find out more about what a heatwave is and how the Bureau classifies them.

Low-intensity heatwave

Low-intensity heatwaves are frequent during summer.

During a low-intensity heatwave, you may see heat health messages being shared.

Severe heatwave

Severe heatwaves are less frequent.

They are likely to be more challenging for vulnerable people, including older people, particularly those with medical conditions.

During a severe heatwave, HHSs will share heat health messages with the community including through local organisations, social media and sometimes the radio.

Queensland Health may also share heat health messages via the website and social media if conditions are widespread.

Extreme heatwave

Extreme heat warning red

Extreme heatwaves are rare.

They are a problem for people who don't take precautions to keep cool—even for healthy people. Anyone who is exposed to heat can be at risk. Working or exercising outdoors can increase your risk.

During an extreme heatwave, Queensland Health will publish an emergency warning online via the Newsroom and social media.

HHSs and other key organisations will also share this emergency warning with stakeholders and the community in their local area.

What does a heatwave warning tell me?

When there is a heatwave in Queensland, it means the temperatures are above average by the local Queensland standards. This means a heatwave in Mount Isa is a heatwave by Mount Isa averages, not Brisbane or Melbourne. It also takes the average for that month into calculation.

Heatwave levels consider not only the maximum temperature, but also how cool it gets in the evening. A cooler evening allows your body to recover from the heat of the day, however if high minimum temperatures are experienced overnight, this puts your body under continuous strain, and health risks increase.

What does a heatwave warning not tell me?

Heatwave levels don’t include humidity. If there is a low heatwave, the impact of humidity needs to be considered.

Queensland’s humidity also increases heat health risks, even for young and healthy people. When humidity rises, our capacity to cool our bodies through sweat evaporation reduces.

If a heatwave lasts a long time, even if it’s a low heatwave, the consistent heat can fatigue even healthy minds and bodies.

How do I stay healthy and safe during a heatwave?

Information about staying healthy and safe during a heatwave can be found on Queensland Health’s Heat-related illness web page.

Related resources

Last updated: 26 February 2025