NSW floods: Central west braces for more flash floods after Molong devastation

Forbes, in the state’s central west, is bracing for record flood levels with the Bureau of Meteorology warning the worst is yet to come.

Forbes in the state’s central west is bracing for record flood levels with the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) warning the worst is yet to come.

Already Molong has been devastated by after a rain deluge hit on Sunday night, impacting more than 30 businesses and 60 houses.

BOM senior meteorologist Jordan Notara is warning the worst is yet to come for towns such as Forbes as tributaries flow down the Lachlan River.

“Three sources flow into the Lachlan (River) … and we saw significant rainfall Sunday which has now combined to a point where Cowra has reached its peak late last night … (but) Forbes has reached a major flood level early this morning,” he said.

“Rainfall occurred Sunday and early Monday causing the initial rise (around Forbes), and now we’re waiting on the second flow-ons from the rivers to reach Forbes.”

A person takes photos of flood waters in Forbes earlier this month. Picture: Brendon Thorne.

People carry sandbags through flood waters in Forbes earlier this month, but now flood levels are expected to rise even further. Picture: Brendon Thorne.

Mr Notara said Forbes was currently sitting at flood levels of 10.61m, close to the 10.67m which devastated the town during the last major flooding event earlier this year.

The BOM is forecasting flood waters could reach 10.8m around Forbes, which will be nearing the all time record for the town.

The tiny town of Molong in central NSW was devastated by floods on Sunday.

Damage from the floods in Molong as residents began the clean-up operation on Monday. Picture: Christopher Tan.

Meantime, police and emergency services are urging communities in the state’s central west to “not take risks” as the BOM has issued severe weather warnings for the region.

This includes heavy rainfall and flash flooding for Eugowra, Derribong and Canowindra.

On Monday, a flood evacuation was called for Eugowra – south west of Molong – with residents in the “low-lying areas” told to evacuate immediately as Mandagery Creek continued to rise.

A total of 101 active flood warnings and 14 emergency warnings have been actioned across the state and as a result, six evacuation centres have been established at the following locations:

Cudal Bowling Club – Brown St, Cudal

Canowindra Public School – Tilga St, Caowindra

Eugowra Public School – Hill St, Eugowra

Moama Recreation Reserve – Perricoota Rd, Moama

Molong RSL – Riddesl St, Molong

Parkes High School — Albert St, Parks

Police urge anyone who is unable to make contact with friends or family displaced by the most recent flooding event to use the Register Find Reunite website.

More updates to come.