WARMER than average conditions are forecast to continue across south-east Queensland after a hot, dry start to the year.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued its seasonal outlook for February to April today.
West and southern Australia and parts of the north-east were tipped to experience a drier than average three months from February.
The forecast comes as heavy rain and floodwaters inundate parts of north Queensland.
However, dry conditions could also affect south-east Queensland, which had only a 30 per cent chance of exceeding median rainfall.
A Bureau spokeswoman said Beaudesert had only received two millimetres of rainfall so far throughout January, compared to 141.4 millimetres last year.
If no more rain was received today, a previous January dry record of 43.6 millimetres set in 2010 in Beaudesert would be smashed, she said.
The Redlands had received 28.6mm, which was on par with last year, and Greenbank about 20mm.
The spokeswoman did not know how long records had been kept in south-east Queensland areas but said January had been hot and dry.
“It has been particularly warm for January and as Queensland as a whole,” she said.
The Bureau’s seasonal outlook tipped an elevated chance of an El Nino developing in autumn this year.
The phenomenon typically results in warmer and drier than usual conditions.
Warm conditions in the central tropical Pacific and central Indian oceans were drawing moisture away from the country, influencing Australia’s weather, according to the Bureau.