WEATHER - QUEENSLAND: Rain and wind continue

Brisbane (Energy Publishing) - Widespread rain is continuing across Queensland's Bowen Basin coalfields and coal terminals on the east coast - with forecasts for more of the same for at least another 48 hours.

Virtually all of the central region's mines have been affected by more than a week of almost non-stop rain that also has caused railway outages and shiploading delays as well as severe difficulties with heavy haulage vehicles on mine sites.

Bureau of Meteorology forecasters are warning of rising seas and increasing wind gusts likely to make for bumpy shipping conditions.