Higher rainfall forecast for Queensland coal regions

Higher than average rainfall in the coal-producing regions of Queensland are to extend into February-April, according to the latest climate outlook by Australia's Bureau of Meteorology (BoM).

February-April is likely to be wetter than average for much of Australia, with a greater than 80pc probability for much of Queensland and parts of far northern Western Australia, along with a greater than 65pc chance for large parts of New South Wales, including the state's coal-producing regions.

Higher than average rainfall in February has a probability of between 65-80pc for much of Queensland.

The La Nina weather event has likely reached its peak strength, although this does not necessarily mean its influence on rainfall has peaked, the BoM said.

Rainfall for Australia in 2020 was close to average for the country as a whole at 483.4mm, or 4pc above the 1961–90 average of 466mm. But last month was the fourth wettest on record as La Nina, which was declared in September, took hold in east Australia.

There has been little interruption to Queensland coal supplies from La Nina, although exports for the state's four largest coal ports dropped to a seven-year low last year.

The mean minimum temperatures for February–April have a greater than 80pc chance to be higher than the long-term mean across most of Australia, the BoM said. Higher temperatures over Australia's summer and autumn periods can have a various impact on domestic energy demand, as it can increase demand for air-conditioning in tropical Queensland and reduce cooling systems demand in more temperate states such as Victoria and Tasmania.

Australia had its fourth-warmest year on record in 2020, with the annual national mean temperature 1.15°C above average, the BoM said.

By Kevin Morrison