In a remarkable shift from last week that left most of us unpacking our boots and furs, this will be the week when white flesh will be exposed as the temperatures creep up to 30 degrees by Friday.

By no means the midsummer heat we’re used to, nevertheless the mercury’s ascent continues peaking at a predicted 32 degrees Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

Then to really freak you out - it’s set to drop down to 23 degrees next Tuesday.

This will offer little in the form of relief to farmers who are still seeking good runoff for their dams, but it will help enhance crop maturity ahead of harvest, with windrowing of canola set to start in the western parts of the district in the next week.

Local agronomist Paul Parker said ideally farmers would be seeking for mild conditions to help achieve yield potential.

Windrowing, for the uninitiated is the process of cutting the crops and laying it into rows to faciliate an even drying and ripening process.

Cherry growers who are looking to start harvest in the next couple of weeks are giving the warmer weather the thumbs up.

Scott Coupland said many growers are presently irrigating and the extra warmth is expected to optimise the ripening process.

“If anything it will result in an increase in sugar in the fruit,” he said. “If we got into 42 and 44 degree days it will be a whole different matter.”