Outback Queensland was set for an early taste of summer on Tuesday with temperatures in parts of the north-west tipped to soar to 40 degrees Celsius.
The state's highest temperature of 41C was expected in Julia Creek.
"Those high temperatures are coming through with that northerly flow ahead of that trough," the Bureau of Meteorology's (BOM) Helen Reid said.
The BOM expects temperatures in some outback towns to be eight degrees above average for this time of year.
"That warmth of summer is going to be with us today," Ms Reid said.
"Temperatures will drop several degrees tomorrow back to normal September weather, but by Sunday it will again get back up to high 30s."
School holiday fossil programs started early in Richmond this morning in an attempt to get ahead of an expected peak of 40C.
Long-time volunteer Barb Flewelling, who is visiting outback Queensland from Canada, says she was preparing to deal with the abnormal heat while out fossicking on Tuesday.
She and and her husband have been visiting Richmond for 14 years to fossick and did not expect to be dealing with such uncomfortable conditions in spring.
"Where we live the top temperature would be around 35, 38," Ms Flewelling said.
"Yesterday wasn't all that great — a bit warm out in the field and I understand today is going to be worse."
Tourists 'a bit shocked'
Julia Creek Information Centre tourism officer Olivia Feegan said locals were coping fine with the early heat, but school holiday tourists were a bit less accustomed to the conditions.
"Everyone is town is fine — I think the tourists are a bit shocked," she said.
"We have had 10 to 15 tourists come into the centre this morning and said they'd rather be in here with us in the air conditioning."
Ms Feegan admits it is early in the season for this type of weather, but knows the system will last long.
"You can't do much about it — you just have to get on with it, drink plenty of water and try and stay cool," she said.
Julia Creek Caravan Park manager Jodi Hoffman agreed that tourists struggled more with the soar in temperature.
"I've had a few people from down south say, 'Oh geez it's hot up here!'" she said.
"I had one lady ring today asking for an air conditioned cabin — she didn't care what she got as long as she got something with air conditioning.
"I think sometimes they come up here for the warmth and then it gets too much for them."
