4500 out of reach, and worsening in northern NSW

TORRENTIAL rain across northern NSW yesterday left more than 4500 people isolated and many more bracing themselves for worse to come.

TORRENTIAL rain across northern NSW yesterday left more than 4500 people isolated and many more bracing themselves for worse to come.

The wet weather continued and devastating floodwaters moved south across the Queensland border.

More than 200mm of rain fell in the Clarence River catchment yesterday, completely cutting off the town of Tenterfield, 160km west of Ballina, and dividing it in half. Twenty people had to be evacuated from their homes, and another 150mm of rain was forecast for the area overnight.

The Clarence River at Grafton is expected to peak at 7am today, which is likely to prompt widespread home evacuations and the closure of the Pacific Highway.

At Tabulam, a small town in the state's northwest, Harold Connors, 74, who has lived beside the Clarence River since he was 14, said the river was as wide as he had ever seen. "I haven't seen this much water since '74," he said, referring to the region's worst flooding in recent memory. "We might get a record."

Mr Connors' granddaughter, Doris Roberts, 12, said the flood was scary but exciting.

Metal recycler Gordon Nicholas became trapped when flash floods cut the Bruxner Highway.

"We came down this morning and the road was open -- 1 1/2 hours later it was flooded," he said.

Premier Kristina Keneally said about 500 people were isolated in Bonalbo, also in the Clarence River catchment. A further 500 were cut off in Darkwood and Upper Thora, and about 150 people were isolated in Ewingar.

The State Emergency Services rescued 12 people across the state's northwest yesterday.

A severe weather warning remained in place for the Northern Tablelands, Northern Rivers and Mid North Coast districts last night, with flood warnings on 15 NSW rivers.

Ms Keneally will visit flood-affected communities in the region today.