The Bureau of Meteorology’s summer outlook predicted most of Australia will to have a hotter than usual summer period.

The bureau’s long-range forecasting manager Dr Andrew Watkins said the outlook showed most of the country had an 80 per cent chance of exceeding normal temperatures between December and February.

“Summer in Australia typically brings hot temperatures for many communities and the outlook indicates this summer will be no different,” he said.

“We've already seen extremely hot temperatures through parts of north and central Queensland in recent days and this should act as an important reminder of the kinds of conditions we can get during an Australian summer.

“In terms of rainfall, the outlook shows a drier than average three months is likely for large parts of Western Australia, Queensland and the top end of the Northern Territory.

“For the rest of the country there is no strong push indicating wetter or drier than average conditions.”

Preliminary figures show this year’s spring to have been in the top 10 warmest on record for Australia.

The chance of an El Nino forming before the new year is 70 per cent, about triple the normal risk.

In Northern Tasmania, the first week of summer will start out mild, however Launceston and towns through the Northern Midlands will see temperatures of 26 degrees from Thursday.

For more information, visit the Bureau of Meteorology website.