SEQ: drought-breaking rain predicted ...

Excerpt from the Courier Mail:

Drought-breaking rain coming

22 November 2007

Souteast Queensland's devastating drought may be coming to an end, forecasters believe.

The news comes as Brisbane businesses today face substantial fines if they do not conserve water.

Optimism that summer will bring good rains has been prompted by an intensifying La Nina weather pattern and a high Southern Oscillation Index.

The weather bureau said the two events suggested that the southeast had up to a 70 per cent chance of an above-average drenching in the next three months.

Farmers in the far west, Darling Downs and Maranoa should also benefit, the bureau says. For the rest of the state, the likelihood of above-average rains is 50-50.

See - Drought-breaking rain.