Eastern Australia faces wet weather and flooding with 70% chance of third consecutive La Niña

Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology has said the risk of La Niña returning this spring was three times higher than normal and will likely bring wet weather. Photograph: Dean Lewins/AAP

Australia could be lashed with more rain and possible floods for the next three months with La Niña conditions predicted to return for a rare third consecutive year.

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology raised the El Niño-Southern Oscillation La Niña outlook from “watch” to “alert” on Tuesday afternoon.