Queensland's north faces a soaring heatwave as temperature records that have stood for 70 years are being repeatedly shattered in "unprecedented" conditions.
The state faces an exceptional heat and fire event and extremely dangerous conditions will peak on Wednesday, Bureau of Meteorology state manager Bruce Gunn says.
"We see extreme fire dangers in Queensland maybe once every two years, but we have now seen it seen it three times or more in four days" Mr Gunn said.
The heatwave will grip the Queensland at least until the weekend, with temperatures to hit 40C and in some places climbing up to 45C.
Mr Gunn said a trough would move across the state on Wednesday generating thunderstorms and lightning strikes with the potential to generate more fires.
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On Tuesday night, 80 fires were burning across the state with emergency services warning that number could to increase dramatically in Wednesday's extreme conditions.
Mr Gunn said dry air behind the trough could broaden the fires "quite dramatically" and create a very potent and dangerous situation".
The bureau warned of severe fire conditions across much of the state, including Central Highlands and Coalfields, Darling Downs and Granite Belt, Wide Bay and Burnett and the Southeast Coast.
Capricornia has been categorised as an "extreme fire danger".
Mr Gunn said conditions were ripe for the fires to burn for several days.
Temperature records broken included a blistering 43.9C at Cooktown and slightly cooler 41.7C Townsville
The bureau has issued a three-day severe-to-extreme heatwave warning for much of the state's north and temperatures are not expected to return to normal until next week.
Cairns is forecast to reach 40C on Tuesday and Townsville 39C.
Conditions are so hot, bats are falling from trees in the Cairns area.
It's prompted health authorities to warn locals not to touch the injured animals after a spate of bites.
