A severe fire danger warning is in place for large parts of southern Queensland, with soaring temperatures and erratic weather conditions forecast for Wednesday.

Communities in the Darling Downs, Scenic Rim and Granite Belt are of major concern with a new fire front headed towards the five-star Spicers Peak Lodge at Maryvale on the Southern Downs, where the fire service has placed a “leave now” warning. 

Authorities are also concerned that erratic weather could fan the Cobraball fire near Yeppoon in central Queensland, which is only 70 per cent contained.