Drought tightens grip on Queensland QUEENSLAND is braced for yet another scorcher as the drought continues to take hold across the state. The Longreach and Barcaldine regional council areas have been declared drought stricken. Twenty-six local government areas are drought declared, covering almost 65 per cent of the state. Agriculture Minister John McVeigh says farmers are feeling the strain, adding those in declared areas could access government help. "There have only been very patchy rainfall events during the summer months over much of western Queensland," he said in a statement on Tuesday. Meanwhile, another scorcher will be felt across the state on Tuesday, with 15 centres expected to reach 40C or more. They include Longreach, Charleville and Birdsville. Brisbane is also expecting a very hot day, with the mercury expected to climb to 36C in the city - six degrees above average. Ipswich, to the west, is expecting 39C. Barcaldine mayor Rob Chandler said many graziers were in real trouble. "There have been some very isolated falls of rain, but this is one of the best droughts mother nature has put on and there are some people in some real strife," he told ABC radio. Some places had only 50mm for the full year last year and when you've got an average rainfall of 19 inches, that's way below par.