Heat records are set to be broken in Queensland this week as a severe heatwave rocks southern parts of the state.

Temperatures are expected to hit the mid-40s across much of Queensland’s southern inland regions on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, with Birdsville expected to reach 47C and towns such as Goondiwindi and Cunnamulla heading for a top of 46C.

The border town of Goondiwindi is heading for maximum temperatures of 45C on Monday, 44C on Tuesday and 46C on Wednesday, and if it does it will break its record for the hottest three consecutive days.

Authorities are on high alert for bushfires with the fire danger rating peaking at severe in the Channel Country and Maranoa and Warrego regions on Tuesday.

Northern NSW is also expected to be hot early in the week with Moree heading for three consecutive days of 44C and Bourke expecting a top of 48C on Tuesday.

The November heat record for Moree is 44.5C, which is a chance to be broken on Monday.

Sky News metrologist Rob Sharpe said the heatwave would be broken by a cool change expected to hit the region on Thursday.

“The heat continues for southern Queensland, in fact it intensifies, with records a chance to break in the far southern inland around Roma, the southern ranges and also in northern NSW,” he said.

“For Queenslanders it's a bit of a long haul. That heat is lingering with a severe heatwave for far northern NSW and southern Queensland.”

Mr Sharpe said for the Darling Downs, Granite Belt and northwest slopes and plains it was an extreme heatwave that would continue into Wednesday.

He said a cool change would come through into Thursday morning for the east coast but the heat would not go far.

“That heat does not go far, it goes into the west, so by Sunday that heat returns again for southeastern Queensland,” Mr Sharpe said.

It comes after more than 20 heat records were broken across northern parts of South Australia and Victoria, and NSW, including the NSW state record.

text by Jack Paynter, news.com.au