More rain forecast for Australian coal regions for 2020

Higher than average rainfall is forecast for Australia's coal-producing regions in the Bowen basin in Queensland and in the Hunter valley of New South Wales (NSW) for the rest of this year, according to the latest seasonal weather outlook by Australia's Bureau of Meteorology (BoM).

The latest forecast is consistent with a previous projection a month ago. But in the interim the BoM has raised the probability of a La Nina weather event occurring by the end of 2020. The BoM raised the probability to 70pc from 50pc of a La Nina weather event occurring in the Pacific Ocean region this year on Australia's east coast, which is where NSW and Queensland are located.

"The remainder of the year is likely to see above average rainfall across much of the eastern two-thirds of the country for the remainder of the year," BoM said in its latest three-month climate outlook. Days are likely to be warmer than average during October-December across northern Australia and the far southeast.

Australia's west coast weather is also influenced by the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), which the BoM has estimated has been at negative values for three of the last four weeks. A negative IOD and a La Nina weather event increase the likelihood of above average spring rainfall across much of Australia. Most of Australia's iron ore and LNG is shipped from Western Australia.

By Kevin Morrison