The scary weather prediction that every Aussie needs to read
The state government warns that Queenslanders will be sweltering under temperatures of 50 degrees and enduring 30-day heatwaves if urgent climate action isn't taken. Climate projections for 2070 by 's Department of Environment and Science paint a troubling picture for Sunshine State residents. Temperatures in could regularly hit or exceed a sticky 35C in Brisbane, 37C in Mount Isa, and 35C in Birdsville if greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise. New modelling predicts some cities will experience months-long drought periods while the threat of flooding will rise by 10 per cent in the state's southeast. The duration of heatwaves will increase by up to 50 days in Rockhampton, in the state's centre, and up to a month in Cairns, on the tropical northeast coast. Extreme drought conditions will see the number of days that hit 35 degrees and hotter increasing by over three months in Mt Isa, in the state's northwest. The number of 35C days is predicted to increase by up to 70 days in Cairns and Birdsville, 60 days in Rockhampton and 30 days in Brisbane and Stanthorpe. The tropical humidity in Cairns will also be affected, with the city's most extreme wet day producing 590mm less rain, in dire news for its tropical rainforest. The duration of sweltering heatwaves in 2070 are predicted to increase by 11 days in Brisbane, 30 days in Cairns and ten days in Rockhampton and Mount Isa. The amount of time spent in extreme drought could increase by up to nine months in Brisbane and a staggering two years in Stanthorpe, in the state's southeast. The same figures remain worryingly high in Cairns and Rockhampton, where extreme drought could last for up to 20 months and 15 months, respectively. The troubling climate projections are made on the assumption that current fossil-fuelled greenhouse gas emissions of RCP8.5 will continue to rise over the next 50 years. 'Current GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions are tracking RCP8.5 closely,' a department spokeswoman told the . 'If emissions continue to rise in line with RCP8.5, then Queensland can expect to see temperatures exceeding 50 degrees at some locations and with increasing frequency into the future.' Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) regional projections team leader John Clarke said the government projections were in line with modelling done by the science community. Mr Clarke said climate projections for the Sunshine State couldn't be sugar-coated. 'We need to be thinking very carefully about how we design our towns going forward (and) how we design our workplaces, and our expectations of what people are going to be able to do will have to change,' he said. Mr Clarke said it was vital cities had enough space for people to escape the sun during longer and more intense heatwaves in the future. Queensland is currently working towards a net zero emission goal by 2050 and has an 80 per cent renewable energy target by 2035. The department spokeswoman said it was crucial Queensland played its part in reducing its contribution to climate change. 'Taking strong action now can avoid the high range climate change described in RCP8.5,' the spokeswoman said. 'However, further increases in global temperatures are likely because of the continuing high rate of GHG emissions globally. 'This includes the possibility of passing the 1.5 degree target for mean global warming as soon as the early 2030s.' Temperatures in Brisbane this week will remain in the high 20s, with weekend highs of 26C on Saturday and 24C on Sunday.