Hot days, more rain: Bureau's forecast for summer

Related: La Nina declared by Bureau of Meteorology

The Bureau's Head of Operational Climate Services Dr Andrew Watkins said despite a wetter than normal Spring, the risk of bushfire and heatwave-related health issues remained.

"Bushfires happen every summer in Australia and even short periods of hot and windy weather will raise the fire risk," Dr Watkins said.

"This year we need to be extra careful about grass and crop fires, particularly across inland areas and in the southwest of the country where we have had good growth over winter and spring."

Summer days are likely to be warmer than average across most of Australia, except in the south-east.

Warm nights are also on the way, and Western Australians are being reminded to take precautions against the heat.

"It's important to remember that heatwaves are Australia's most deadly natural hazard," Dr Watkins said.

"Warm nights after hot days in particular make heat stress a significant health risk."

The Bureau said the La Nina weather event declared earlier this week could bring an above average number of tropical cyclones and lows.

"We've already seen our first tropical cyclone of the season, roughly three weeks earlier than normal.

"The Australian region experiences an average of 9 to 11 tropical cyclones each year, with around seven forming in waters off WA. Even when cyclones remain well offshore, coastal impacts can still be felt."

WA's first tropical cyclone of the season formed on November 22, near Christmas Island to the west of the Australian mainland.