Heat health warning for southern and central Queensland

PROTECT YOURSELF – extreme heatwave warning for southern and central Queensland as at 5:45pm, 21 January 2025

The Bureau of Meteorology advises severe to extreme heatwave conditions are forecast to impact large parts of Queensland from Wednesday 22 January 2025.

Extreme heatwave conditions are expected to reach a severity that may pose a health risk to those in areas extending from Bribie Island, north of Brisbane, up to Rainbow Beach near Gympie, and parts of the Mackay and Isaac regions.

Severe heatwave conditions are expected to impact areas extending between the Gold Coast and Mackay, and inland to Longreach.

These conditions are expected to continue until Friday.

Make sure you know what to do when there is a heatwave warning in your area. Stay informed by visiting the Heatwave Service for Australia website.

Take the below measures to keep yourself and your loved ones safe:

Plan and prepare

• Monitor the weather using Bureau of Meteorology's Heatwave Service.
• Store food and medication at a safe temperature.
• Plan ahead if the electricity goes out.
• Know who to call if you need help.
• Follow your doctor’s advice if you have any medical conditions.

Stay as cool as possible

• Try to be indoors during the hottest part of the day.
• Close windows and doors to keep the heat out.
• Use air conditioning.
• Avoid or reduce strenuous activities.
• If you have to go outside, be sun safe by wearing a hat, long sleeves and light clothing, seeking shade where possible and applying sunscreen every two hours.

Drink water regularly and stay hydrated

• Drink water (between 6-8 glasses each day).
• Avoid alcoholic, hot or sugary drinks including tea and coffee (they can make dehydration worse).
• Urine colour is a good guide to hydration – it should be clear to light straw-colour.
• If you go outside, carry a bottle of water with you.

Look out for each other

• Keep in contact with elderly friends, neighbours and relatives during a heat wave in case you, or they, need help.
• Don’t leave children or pets in parked cars.

Heat stress can cause a range of health problems, including heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heatstroke. If you are concerned you, or your loved one, is affected by one of these, call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25) or Triple Zero (000) in an emergency.

Heat stress can cause a range of health problems, including heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heatstroke. If you are concerned you, or your loved one, is affected by one of these, call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25) or visit your doctor. Call Triple Zero (000) immediately in an emergency.

For more information about heat-related illness, as well as tips on understanding your risk and caring for vulnerable people (including the elderly, pregnant or young kids) in hot weather, visit the Queensland Government website.

Queensland Health will issue an updated heatwave health warning if health advice changes.