Firefighters are on high alert in Central West, North West and Northern Goldfields and Upper Flinders districts after temperature records were smashed in 30 towns across the state.

The Queensland Fire and Rescue Service has advised that that fires will be uncontrollable and fast-moving.

The highest temperature recorded was 41.4 degrees Celsius at Taroom, west of Maryborough, while the mercury soared past 40 degrees in another eight localities.

Brisbane-based meteorologist Matthew Bass said Thursday’s scorcher had rewritten the history books as many towns had records dating back more than 100 years.

“These are new records and some of these places have records dating back the late 1800s,” he said.

Roma, for instance, recorded a maximum of 40.1 degrees on Thursday – the highest since its weather station opened in 1889.

Longreach, Emerald, Moranbah, Dalby, Oakey and Toowoomba were also among the towns that sweated through their hottest September day.

Mr Bass said above-average sea surface and ocean temperatures, combined with a lack of cloud cover, had created the unprecedented hot conditions.

“There has been a real lack of major cloud cover across the country,” he said.

“There has also been a lack of cold fronts crossing the south at the end of winter.

“The heat has built up and there has been no cloud to stop it.”

Mr Bass said a cool change is moving through the west of Queensland, which will cause temperatures to drop – but only slightly.

Many maximum temperatures were expected to stay around 38 or 39 degrees, he said.

Mr Bass said there was a 65 to 75 per cent chance of Queensland temperatures being above average for the remainder of the year.

Below average rainfall was also likely, he said.