As scorching temperatures continue to intensify, Queensland beaches have closed and fire crews remain at the scene of three vegetation fires on Sunday.
Toowoomba reached the 40-degree mark by 2pm breaking the record for its hottest day ever recorded, while Brisbane hit a top of just under 38 degrees after expected a maximum of 39.
Meanwhile St George, Dalby, Miles, Warwick, Oakey, Kingaroy, Gatton, Roma, Applethorpe, and Beaudesert also experienced their hottest February days ever.
Thargomindah and Birdsville in south-west Queensland exceeded 46 degrees.
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In addition to straining the energy grid and forcing the cancellation of events across the state, the extreme heat also brought an influx of one unusual sea creature, namely the margined sea lizard at Coolangatta's Greenmount Beach.
Surf Life Saving Queensland spokeswoman said the sea lizards had forced the closure of the beach on Saturday, with swimmers complaining about stings which, while potentially quite painful, were generally harmless.
The beach reopened on Sunday but Palm Beach on the Gold Coast remained closed because of dangerous surf, despite conditions easing overnight.
What was that about full moons and comets tonight? Now Australian beaches are being invaded by margined sea lizards. Plague of frogs next? https://t.co/nM6rSLbHCX
— DAndrew (@DesleyAndrew) February 11, 2017
Meanwhile, Eimeo and Sarina beaches in north Queensland were off limits after dangerous jellyfish invaded.
The spokeswoman added nine rescues had been performed on Sunday morning and an estimated 35,000 people were cooling off on the coastline.
The heat is causing chaos in New South Wales, with more than 70 bush and grass fires burning across the state.
NSW Rural Fire Service commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons describing conditions as "worse than the Black Saturday forecast".
In Queensland crews were working to extinguish grassfires at Moolboolaman near Bundaberg and Kenilworth at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday afternoon, with residents warned of smoke in the area.
Crews were also monitoring and dampening down hotspots at two grassfires at Morganville and Glenleigh, inland from Hervey Bay.
The RSPCA was left disappointed on Saturday after a dog "boiled" to death after being left tied up in the blazing heat.
Beaudesert and Gatton also broke their records for the warmest February days in almost 50 years, while Toowoomba experienced its warmest day ever recorded on Saturday.