Hot, unseasonal weather has pushed temperatures into the 30's and close to 40 degrees in parts of Queensland, smashing records. The hot weather was felt right across the state on Saturday, with the tropics escaping the worst of it. The Maranoa, Channel Country and Central Highlands all bore the brunt of the heat, as the mercury soared up to 14 degrees above average. Quilpie, in the Channel Country seared to 36 degrees, their hottest August day since records began in 1957. Mitchell, in the Maranoa, recorded a blistering 34 degrees, their hottest August day in 39 years of records. Taroom, in the Central Highlands hit 35, their hottest August day in at least 52 years. Birdsville's 38 degrees was one of the hottest in the state. The record heat is truly exceptional and is more reflective of temperatures that would be expected in the height of the summer. Quilpie's 36, for example, is only one degree below that of the January average of 37. The hot weather is set to continue into the start of the new week as warm westerly winds draw further warmth from the interior. Maximums on Sunday and Monday could be even higher with further records set to tumble.