UPDATE: MORE than 50 bushfires have been burning across Queensland today, as temperatures soared to 40C across the state.

New records for December were set in the southeast where Tewantin on the Sunshine Coast hit 39.7C - its hottest December temperature on record.

Brisbane reached 38C - the city's hottest December day since 2001 - while the Gold Coast got to 35.1C at Coolangatta, the hottest December reading since 2004.

In the state's north Charters Towers got to 40.5C which is its hottest December day since 2002 and Rockhampton reached 39.1C, its hottest December day since 2008.

The fire danger is expected to remain in the severe to near-extreme range in many areas tomorrow.