Flood-ravaged towns warned that risk remain high

The NSW SES has urged communities to remain cautious as the flood risk remains high despite some drier days on the horizon.

NSW residents have been warned that the flood risk remains “very real”, as rivers and dams are pushed to capacity.

There are 24 evacuation warnings and 141 flood warnings in place “stretching from one end of NSW to the other”.

“Clearly the flood risk remains across NSW for today and will do so for some days to come,” Emergency Services Minister Steph Cooke said.

“The rivers are very full and of course our dams are mostly at full capacity at present.

Minor flooding took place in Lismore overnight. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Danielle Smith

“So even the smallest amount of rain falling can cause an elevated risk of flash flooding.

“We will start to see the rivers decline in some communities today, but the risk is still very real.”

SES volunteers have executed 32 flood rescues over the last 24 hours.

“It’s well above what we want to see,” SES Commissioner Carlene York said.

“I’m very concerned about the flood rescues, people are making poor decisions.”

Overnight, the Murray River at Moama peaked at a major flood level of 94.9m – exceeding the 1993 and 1975 flood records – and the water level is expected to stay high for several days.

The Wilsons River at Lismore also reached peak near the moderate flood level at 7.2m about 10pm on Monday.

Emergency Services Minister Steph Cooke said the flood risk was still ‘very real’. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

There are 500 residents are under evacuation orders in Narrabri in the state’s northwest.

The town of Bega on the state’s south coast experienced up to 100mm of rain in the past 24 hours.

Resources are now being positioned on the south coast in preparation for flooding, including an ADF night-time rescue helicopter, high-clearance vehicles and personnel.

SES volunteers will move into towns such as Gunnedah on Tuesday to begin the rapid damage assessment process.

NSW EMERGENCY WARNINGS:

• Narrabri Big Sky Caravan Park (evacuate now)
• Narrabri Village East (evacuate now)
• Narrabri Industrial Area (evacuate now)
• Southeast Narrabri (evacuate now)
• Parts of North Narrabri (evacuate now)
• Lower North Lismore (evacuate now)
• Bungawalbin (prepare to isolate)
• Parts of North Gunnedah flooding (evacuate now)
• Parts of South Moree flooding (evacuate now)

Significant rainfall will return on Monday but will likely stay west of the Great Dividing Range. Picture: Sky Weather

• Parts of North Moree flooding (evacuate now)
• Carroll Village flooding (evacuate now)
• Northeast Narrabri (move to higher ground)
• Terry Hie Hie (move to higher ground)
• Moama Caravan and Tourist Parks (evacuate)
• Cummeragunja (evacuate)
• Backwater Creek, Moama (evacuate)
• Parts of Narrandera South (evacuate)
• South West Narrandera (evacuate)
• Parts of East Moama (evacuate)
• Murray Valley Regional Park (evacuate)

Busy times for SES volunteers are set to continue until December. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Danielle Smith

The heavy rain will continue through Tuesday but is expected to ease as two low pressure systems move south.

But the rain won’t stay away for long, as meteorologists are forecasting a large wet weather system will hit western NSW by late Sunday and into Monday.

“The footprint of what we are facing is much larger because of the weather events that are just rolling in,” Ms York said.

“It will be busy times for our volunteers until at least December.”

A woman’s body was found in floodwaters near Mudgee on Monday.

The body is believed to be a 28-year-old woman who had been missing for more than 14 hours after she escaped a vehicle stuck in floodwaters on Sunday night in Gulgong, about 30km north of Mudgee in the state’s Central Tablelands.

Three other occupants of the vehicle were found safe.

Premier Dominic Perrottet re-emphasised that people should not drive through floodwaters.

“You wouldn‘t drive into a bushfire – don’t drive into floodwaters,” Mr Perrottet said on Monday.

“Not only are you putting your life at risk but also the lives of our SES volunteers and personnel.”