Wild storm season awaits Queensland
Already on high fire danger, Queensland is also heading into what's likely to be its most severe storm season in years.
The Weather Bureau's outlook - to the end of the year - also predicts much hotter weather than normal.
In 2008, Queensland’s capital was torn apart by the city’s most destructive storm. Since then the weather patterns have changed.
La Nina has gone and now and the south-east is on the cusp of an El Nino – that means more storms and hotter weather.
"Over the last few years, with the La Nina we've had probably a reduced amount of severe weather activity," Jeff Sabburg from the Weather Bureau says.
"We'll feel that heat over the next few months."
It's also more certain that overnight minimums will be warmer than average - a welcome prediction for the struggling tourism industry.
"There's been a couple of tough summers - this year we can have a really good summer. I think all the operators will be really happy with that," Mark Higginbottom from Mirage Boat Hire said.
Air conditioners will get a work out too, and Queensland's Energy Minister Mark McArdle says our power grid can cope.
"If you're using air conditioners understand that will be an extra burden to your wallet and your pocket - be careful what you use," he said.
Despite the south-east's dry spell, the Bureau predicts rainfall for the rest of the year should be average - around 280 millimetres for Brisbane.
Although the top soil has dried out, the south-east remains waterlogged underneath the surface. The Weather Bureau warns any rain we do get, could lead to flash flooding.
And if the rains don't come, the dams are still 98 per cent full.
