There are two major weather systems brewing - one on either side of the country.

Let’s start with the eastern one, which will be another significant rain system for Queensland, particularly in the southeast near the coast.

If you are in between Brisbane and Mackay, please keep up to date with the latest forecasts and warnings, as a low develops off the coast, fed by tropical moisture, resulting in heavy rain.

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The rain should start to spread across much of Queensland and northern NSW during the day on Friday. A nice drop from this one, rather than widespread intense rain.

The activity intensifies on Saturday along the coast with modelling suggesting widespread falls of 25mm to 100mm. Locally up to 300mm in the most affected area near the low, which is currently between Maryborough and Yeppoon.

This one is relatively fast though, with the weather rapidly easing again on Sunday.

High pressure brings a dry weekend to the southeast, but in the west of the country we have the next big system move through.

Again this will have a good feed of moisture from the tropics - the Indian Ocean - ensuring that the rainband that moves through with the gusty cold front is moisture-laden and brings 25mm to 50mm to the southwest corner, before slowly decreasing as you head inland.

This is a strong cold front, and will be accompanied by the usual wind threats. Most of this is felt later Saturday into Sunday.

These are ongoing examples of weather systems meeting up with tropical moisture to bring heavier than usual rain for those in the path of the low, trough or front.

The global patterns in both the Indian and Pacific Oceans tell us when this injection of moisture is more likely - when we are in a Negative Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) or a La Nina.

Put simply, a Negative IOD is the Indian Ocean equivalent of La Nina, just without the fancy name. They both act to push extra moisture towards Australia.

We crossed the threshold into a Negative IOD about a week and a half ago, and remain there this week. Most forecasts have us remaining below that threshold for the next month or two. If we remain there for about eight weeks in total it will officially be a Negative IOD.

The Pacific Ocean has weak signs of heading towards that negative threshold too - ie a La Nina. It is one to watch to see if we have both oceans enhancing our moisture over the next few months.

It won’t ensure rain for all though - only those in the path of the lows.