HOT and dry conditions are expected across North West Queensland today, as residents recover from a similarly hot Christmas.
Mount Isa and Cloncurry are heading toward tops of 43C today, while 42C is forecast for Hughenden.
Charters Towers will be slightly cooler at 37C, while coastal areas will benefit from sea breezes.
Townsville Bureau Meteorologist Mario Torrisi said a hot air mass had settled in this week, leading to slightly higher temperatures.
He said the east-coast would be tempered by sea breezes with temperatures in the low to mid 30s.
Mr Torrisi said some areas in the North had received slightly higher than average rainfall this year, but results were patchy.
“Looking at rainfall for year so far, only running above average is the coastal section from about Bowen to Shoalwater Bay area and patches further south on the coast to Hervey Bay,” he said.
“We had some patches of above average in the south-eastern gulf region back to Georgetown, but the rest of the northern half of the State has seen below average rainfall for the year so far.”
Mr Torrisi said a weak La Nina may bring slightly more rain to the region this wet season.