Queensland’s record-breaking wet season is predicted to continue until at least the end of the year.

But climate scientists say it’s not enough to clear the poor rainfall figures over the past 14 years.

Shitika Anand reports.

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TRANSCRIPT

If all the September rain spoilt your idea of the perfect spring then brace yourself for more.

Queensland could be facing a major wet season continuing through into the summer months.

But the weather bureau says all this rain is STILL not enough.

Dr Jeff Sabburg, Climate Scientist: “We still have in the South-East particularly in Queensland, very much below average rainfall deficits.”

South-East Queensland has build-up this rainfall deficit since 1996 and the recent heavy rainfall has made very little difference.

Climate scientists are predicting similar situation to what happened 35 years ago when the state was hit by a double-whammy effect.

That’s negative sea surface temperatures and warmer land temperatures that could produce above average rainfall in the coming months.

Dr Jeff Sabburg, Climate Scientist: “We have seen in 1974 when we had a negative phase of the IOD and a La nina that you could have major flooding if the tropical cyclone crosses the coast.”

The weather bureau is already saying we’ll have an earlier cyclone season especially in Northern Queensland.

Dr Jeff Sabburg, Climate Scientist: “The outlook is 75 per cent probability of exceeding average rainfall up in the North part of the country. Further down here it is more 60 to 65 per cent probability.”

In the last 12 days Brisbane has received 103 mm of rainfall. hat has helped push the combined dam levels of Wivenhoe, Somerset and North Pine to 99 per cent.

If heavy rainfall continues then SEQWater is preparing to release an excess water from the dams.

Shitika Anand, QUT News.