Brisbane braces for hottest September day in years; fire bans issued in Queensland

Brisbane is forecast to hit 34C, potentially its hottest September day in years, with local fire bans issued for Ipswich and Lockyer Valley. The Bureau of Meteorology warns of unseasonable heat in the low to mid-30s across north-eastern NSW and south-east Queensland. This early-season heat raises bushfire risk and signals an unusually warm start to spring, though the full extent of the heatwave remains to be seen.