Farmer Chris Wilson said it was very important for everyone to be sun-smart this summer, with heatstroke a real danger for people working outdoors.

“The heat is often better for harvest, but you’ve got to be careful,” Mr Wilson said. “I try to cover up and wear long sleeves, a big hat and apply sunscreen regularly. You’ve also got to carry a lot of water, I can go through four or five litres a day.”

Mr Wilson also reminded people to take care of their animals – livestock and domestic – giving them plenty of water and relief from the heat.

“Make sure you don’t work animals in the heat of the day,” Mr Wilson said. “Dogs especially don’t know when to stop, they’ll go till they drop, so you need to be conscious of that. Look at nature, when it’s too hot animals go for the shade and have a good rest.”

Climate modelling from the Bureau of Meteorology suggests an increased chance of a La Nina forming in the coming weeks, but it is likely to be short-lived. During La Nina years, eastern Australia tends to have wetter than usual summers, as equatorial trade winds strengthen, shifting rainfall westwards.

While the added cloud cover can moderate temperatures, there is also an increased chance of prolonged warm spells for south-eastern Australia during La Ninas, the bureau says. The cyclone season can also be more active than usual.