Temperatures will soar into the mid-40s as severe and intense heatwaves are forecast for inland Australia this weekend, while parts of the northern and eastern coasts are expected to be lashed with thunderstorms and heavy rainfall.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued heatwave warnings for most of the Northern Territory, inland areas of Queensland and Western Australia, western Tasmania, and parts of South Australia over the next two days.

The Northern Territory’s south-east corner, Western Australia’s South Interior and South Australia’s North West Pastoral District can expect maximum temperatures in the low to mid 40s and overnight minimums in the mid to high 20s.

Queensland’s Channel Country can expect similar conditions on the weekend but severe heatwave conditions will continue to build into next week, with overnight temperatures in the low 30s.

According to Weatherzone, temperatures could reach 46 to 47 degrees celsius in parts of far western Qld during the first half of next week, while temperatures are also predicted to hit 45 to 46°C in the north of SA and the southern NT.

Tasmania can expect maximum temperatures in the high 20s to low 30s and overnight minimum temperatures in the low to mid teens over the weekend, with severe heatwave conditions over the North West Coast and Furneaux Islands easing early next week.

With the scorching heat comes a high fire danger rating for most of South Australia and Western Australia across the weekend.

While the interior swelters, on the east coast, Sydney, Brisbane and the Gold Coast are in for a wet weekend with storms and showers forecast across both days.

Severe weather warnings are in place currently for much of Queensland’s south-east inland with heavy rainfall forecast for the Wide Bay and Burnett, Southeast Coast and Darling Downs and Granite Belt districts.

Early this morning, Herring Lagoon on North Stradbroke Island recorded 93mm in an hour.

47mm was recorded at Holmleigh, near Mitchell in the Maranoa, in the hour to 10.30am.