The La Nina weather system that has brought widespread flooding this year is persisting, the Bureau of Meteorology said today, while also warning of torrential rainfall in the next few days over parts of Queensland.

“La Nina continues in the tropical Pacific, with little change in strength in the past few weeks,” the bureau’s latest update says.

Tropical Pacific sea surface temperatures, cloudiness near the Date Line, and the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) have maintained or slightly increased strength, but beneath the surface waters have warmed closer to neutral levels and most models continue to indicate an end to the La Nina by early winter.

The bureau says two thirds of Queensland is currently under flood watch, with heavy rain expected to spread across much of the state, mostly affecting northern and inland regions.

Totals could exceed 200mm over the north tropical coast and lower Burdekin regions and reach much higher levels in some locations, Meteorologist Jackson Browne says.

“We should see falls in isolated pockets up to 500mm in parts of the coast side of the Great Divide,” he said.

Heaviest falls are forecast to remain north of the southeast Queensland and NSW Northern Rivers regions hard-hit by the catastrophic flooding in February and March.

“The expectation with the northern NSW rainfall is that we won’t see very high impacts, like we are seeing north of the border,” Mr Browne said.

RACQ spokesperson Kate Leonard-Jones says the weather system has the potential to be a significant event in Queensland given many areas are already saturated from recent heavy rain.

“There is an increased risk of flash flooding, particularly around creeks or streams following short, intense rainfall,” Ms Leonard-Jones said.