The odds of above-average rainfall are highest in southeast Queensland and the northeast of NSW.

The Bureau of Meteorology rated these areas as having a 70% chance of receiving higher than median rainfall from April to the end of June.

Areas hosting coal mines in the two states are expected to have at least a 60% chance of receiving higher than median rainfall.

“Outlook confidence is related to how consistently the Pacific and Indian oceans affect Australian rainfall,” the bureau said.

“During the March to May period, history shows the effect to be moderately consistent through southeastern Queensland, while the effect is only weakly or very weakly consistent over the rest of northern Australia.

“La Nina conditions have weakened in the tropical Pacific. Computer models surveyed by the bureau suggest the current La Nina event will persist through the southern hemisphere autumn and return to neutral levels by the southern winter.”

The bureau clarified what the prospects might be for the areas rated with a 60-75% chance of receiving above-median rainfall.

“Such odds mean that for every 10 years with similar ocean patterns to those currently observed, about six to seven April to June periods would be expected to be wetter than average over these areas, while about three to four years would be drier.”

Unseasonal high rainfall in the months before the devastating wet season in Queensland caused various coal mines to be less prepared than in other years.

Rain-related disruptions have also had an increasing impact on NSW operations over the past few months.