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The mercury in Birdsville in western Queensland tipped 44.4 degrees on Friday
It came after the remote town recorded its hottest ever October day on Thursday
Experts said it could get even hotter on Saturday before a cold front sweeps in
Brisbane reached a cooler 32 degrees but locals still made the most of the sun

Published: 04:52 EDT, 26 October 2018 | Updated: 05:51 EDT, 26 October 2018

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Parts of Queensland are suffering through a blistering 44 degree heatwave and it could get even hotter - as parts of the state recorded their hottest ever October temperatures.

Experts said the sunshine state's hot streak heading into the weekend would hold out until Saturday before a cold front sweeps through the state on Sunday.

The mercury in Brisbane hit 32 degrees on Friday, but it was western parts of the state that felt the brunt of the scorching weather.

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Parts of Queensland are suffering through a blistering 44 degree heatwave and it could get even hotter - as parts of the state recorded their hottest ever October temperatures (pictured sun-seekers make the most of the rays on Friday at the South Bank Parklands, Brisbane)

Crowds gathered to escape the heat at Streets Beach in the South Bank Parklands in Brisbane as the city sweated through temperatures around 32C on Friday

And the Bureau of Meteorology warned said parts of the state could reach record temperatures over the weekend before the cooler front drifts in

Weather stations in Birdsville, on the border with South Australia, recorded temperatures highs of 44.4 degrees - the hottest October day ever.

Longreach in central Queensland, meanwhile, had temperatures of 42 degrees as the state's Rural Fire Service issued a severe fire warning for the Darling Downs region west of Brisbane.

Weatherzone duty forecaster Tom Hough said western parts of the state would continue to see temperatures in the low 40s on Saturday - although Brisbane would likely cool down to around 36 degrees.

And the Bureau of Meteorology warned said parts of the state could reach record temperatures over the weekend before the cooler front drifts in.

Across the state, Queenslanders are sweltering through temperatures more than 10 degrees above the October average according to the BoM.

Queensland Ambulance Service clinical quality and patient safety director Tony Hucker urged people to take precautions with temperatures set to remain high.

Queensland Ambulance Service clinical quality and patient safety director Tony Hucker urged people to take precautions with temperatures set to remain high

Across the state, Queenslanders are sweltering through temperatures more than 10 degrees above the October average according to the BoM

South-east Queensland is experiencing unseasonably hot conditions for this time of year, with temperatures hitting the high thirties across the region

He said: 'It's about making sure you stay inside when it's cool, wear loose-fitted clothing and keeping your fluids up.

'The people we're most concerned about when there's a heat event is the older folks, young kids and people who are sick at home.'

The owner of the Birdcage Hotel in Longreach told ABC News although temperatures were expected to continue to soar most locals were accustomed to the heat.

He said: 'It gets hard for the workers who work in it - the bricklayers, the chippies and the painters - they'll feel it this time of year.'

Meanwhile, in New South Wales, rainy weather has cleared to make way for sunny skies and temperatures in the low to mid 20s.

The thermostat in Sydney is expected to hover in the low 20s until Tuesday.

Experts said the Sunshine State's hot streak heading into the weekend would hold out until Saturday before a cold front sweeps through the state on Sunday

Meanwhile, in New South Wales, rainy weather has cleared to make way for sunny skies and temperatures in the low to mid 20s

Brisbane and the Gold Coast (pictured) braced as temperatures across the Sunshine State reached the mid 30s - but it was the western towns of Longreach and Birdsville that saw the mercury rise the highest