Dramatic lightning storms are expected to hit Brisbane, while temperatures in some parts of Queensland have tipped 40 degrees.
Skies are expected to light up in the state's capital on Monday afternoon when the mercury peaks at 36 degrees, about 10 degrees hotter than average for this time of year.
In Cunnamulla, in southwest Queensland, a temperature record that stood for more than a century tumbled on Sunday when it reached 42 degrees.
And the Bureau of Meteorology says other long-standing October temperature records could fall by the end of Monday.
"We're talking about eight to 10 degrees above average in some places, even 11 or 12 degrees," forecaster Dean Narramore told AAP.
"We're talking new record temperatures for much of the southern interior and southeast inland today."
While it's not as hot in Brisbane, temperatures are still well above average, with lightning, a little rain and some wind gusts expected by Monday afternoon.
Temperature records were also broken on Sunday at St George and Goondiwindi, which reached temperatures of 40 and 41 degrees, as well as Applethorpe and Stanthorpe, south of Brisbane, which reached 33 and 35 degrees.
At Birdsville on Sunday, it got to 43 degrees - a full 10 degrees above average.
Ipswich, to Brisbane's west, is forecast to hit 40 on Monday, which is just off the highest October temperature on record of 41.1 in 1958.
The Rural Fire Service Queensland (RFSQ) is urging people to be vigilant with severe or very high fire danger warnings in place across most of the state.
An extreme fire warning is in place for the Darling Downs and Granite Belt area of the southern interior.
"Warm temperatures combined with low humidity and strong winds make conditions perfect for fires to spark and spread quickly," RFSQ assistant commissioner Neil Gallant warned.
Mr Narramore says the higher temperatures are caused by heat being drawn toward the NSW and Queensland coasts from a "hot air mass" sitting over central Australia.
Temperatures are expected to ease over the coming days before heating up again later in the week.
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