With more than 100 flood warnings in place, people throughout NSW are bracing for another wet week.
Heavy rain will lash western and southern parts of the state on Wednesday and Thursday but for now, conditions have eased with patches of sunshine peeking through.
Seven rivers could experience flooding in the coming days, the Bureau of Meteorology said.
Major inundation is occurring along the Murrumbidgee River with people in Gundagai on high alert and flooding possible at Wagga Wagga.
Areas of concern include Gunnedah and Wee Waa in the state’s northwest, Warren, west of Dubbo, and Forbes in the central west.
Evacuation orders are current for parts of Dubbo, Wagga and the Hawkesbury area, north of Sydney.
SES volunteers have responded to more than 1000 calls for help since Friday evening, including 155 in the past 24 hours, and conducted six rescues.
Some 450 emergency volunteers in the field are stretched throughout the state “literally border to border at the moment”, Deputy SES Commissioner Daniel Austin told ABC TV on Tuesday.
Numerous rivers are at major flood levels, particularly in the north and west of the state.
The Murrumbidgee River at Gundagai peaked at 9.04 metres early on Tuesday, with moderate flooding expected at Wagga Wagga as flood waters move downstream.
There is prolonged flooding along the Lachlan River, which peaked at Cowra near the moderate flood level on Monday afternoon.
The main flood peak is expected to reach Nanami on Tuesday afternoon, bringing major flooding.
At Forbes, the Lachlan River is likely to peak near 10.40 metres, just below the major flood level, on Wednesday, bringing major flooding to Cottons Weir and Jemalong.
The Namoi River at Gunnedah peaked at 7.75m on Monday night, with the main flood peak now downstream of Boggabri and expected to reach Narrabri on Wednesday.
On the Hawkesbury River, the level at Penrith fell below the minor flood level on Monday.
There is minor flooding at North Richmond and moderate flooding at Windsor.
Victorians are urged to enjoy the warm weather while it lasts, with the State Emergency Service bracing for flooding in the next few days.
Nine flood warnings are already in place in Victoria.
The heaviest rain is expected to arrive on Thursday, with up to 100mm in some areas.
In Queensland, minor flood warnings are current for the Bulloo, Lower Macintyre, Paroo, Bokhara and Barcoo rivers.
The BOM has also released its severe weather long-range forecast into 2023.
It expects an increased risk of tropical cyclones and tropical lows and widespread flooding for eastern and northern Australia.
While there is “normal bushfire potential” in the eastern states, there will be an elevated risk of grass fires in southern Australia and a higher risk of prolonged heatwaves with higher humidity
The forecast also warns of a possible increase in the risk of thunderstorm asthma events if 2023 conditions are dry in late spring and early summer.
© AAP 2022
