Southwest Queensland councils are warning tourists to take precautions against the heat, with temperatures set to soar above 45C this week.
Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Jonty Hall said the region was likely to swelter until the weekend.
"It'll be 40 degrees today right across almost to Charleville," he told AAP on Tuesday.
"There's a high pressure system on the east coast of Australia and a low through the centre, so in between there's a trough where these north winds are getting whipped up.
"It (the system) will gradually push east as far as the Darling Downs in the next few days."
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Speaking to AAP from Birdsville, Diamantina Shire Council tourism and community manager Steve Baldwin said the mercury had reached 38C before 11am (AEST) on Tuesday.
"We're expecting just shy of 44 today, and even hotter on Wednesday and Thursday," he said.
"Most of the town will exercise commonsense and stay inside today." However, Mr Baldwin urged those visiting the outback to take the necessary precautions against the weather.
"Our advice to the public is to take plenty of water with them when travelling, and to let a visitor centre or the police know about their movements," he said.
"What a lot of people don't realise is that vehicles use more petrol in extreme heat, so we're advising people to carry extra fuel. "It's a pretty simple equation to survive."
Mr Baldwin said there were some minor benefits of such oppressive heat. "
The wife loves it, she can start hanging the washing out, and by the time she's reached the other end of the line, the washing's dry," he said.
"There's a sign at the pub which says `47 degrees outside, 25 degrees inside and beers 7 degrees'. I think that sums it up pretty well."
