A maximum temperature around 36°C is likely in Brisbane this Thursday, which will be close to the hottest day of 2026 to date.

The previous high mark for 2026 to date was 37.1°C on January 26.

Interestingly, Brisbane's 2nd-hottest day this year was 34.5°C on September 6, in a burst of early spring heat which also broke early-season Sydney temperature records.

At 9 am (AEST), it was already 31°C in Brisbane.

Why so hot in Brisbane this Thursday?

This Thursday's heat is due to dry, hot westerly winds from the interior of Queensland where temperatures are tipped to reach 42°C in some areas. A heatwave warning is in place for numerous districts.

While Brisbane has seen at least some rain on 17 of the past 21 days (including a 15-day rainy streak during an October when the city received more than double its monthly rainfall average), the wet weather and humidity of recent weeks is absent today.

The westerlies will negate the usual cooling sea breeze across much of the city, although a weak afternoon seabreeze could cool Brisbane's bayside suburbs this afternoon, according to Weatherzone meteorologist Craig Mitchell. However, the city and most inland suburbs will experience little relief from the baking heat.

A dry southerly will then blow in overnight, with a significantly cooler maximum of 28°C expected for Friday (the average November maximum is 28.3°C).

2026 to date in Brisbane: warmer than average despite no heat extremes

Despite only one day which has exceeded 35 degrees, Brisbane has been relatively warm so far this year. in the 10 completed months to date in 2026:

Brisbane's minimum temperatures were warmer than average in eight of the 10 months, and cooler in two months.

Brisbane's maximums were warmer in six of the 10 months, average in two, and cooler in two.

So overall, Brisbane's temperatures both during the day and at night have trended above the long-term average in 2026 despite the lack of extremely hot days.