‘Danger day’: Half of Australia threatened in weekend floods

Farms are likely to be inundated, the Bathurst 1000 is under way amid floodwaters, and the eastern half of the country is on alert. Saturday will be “danger day”.

Saturday will be “danger day”, ­according to NSW State Emergency Services, as the eastern half of the country battles escalating torrential rain.

In a seemingly never-ending weather event, Queensland, NSW, Victoria and Tasmania will face heavy rain and thunderstorms throughout the weekend, with tensions rising in flood-prone communities.

The rain will cause “renewed and prolonged flooding”, the ­Bureau of Meteorology said. Already flooded rivers in all four states will see further level rises.

A new wet weather system was lashing down over much of NSW from Friday, and more than 50 flood warnings were active across the state, including major flooding for more than a dozen catchments.

Residents in inland NSW must remain vigilant, an SES spokesperson urged.

NSW SES volunteers monitor flood waters in Nyngan as rain batters the east coast. Picture: Supplied.

Heavy rain continued to fall across the northwest of the state, with the Macquarie River at Warren sitting at a renewed flood peak of 9.1m. The river reached the peak on Wednesday afternoon, and remained at a steady high late on Friday.

“We don’t want you to be complacent,” the spokesperson said. “if you are doorknocked and asked to evacuate, we want you to do it then and there.”

The warning came as an estimated 200,000 people were expected to descend on the inland city of Bathurst this weekend for the Bathurst 1000, despite flooding under way in the area. SES members were doorknocking low-lying areas to ensure residents were aware of the risk.

SES responded to 600 requests for assistance in recent days. More than half were the ­result of flash flooding, which closed roads and threatened agricultural stocks.

“Driving through floodwaters could be the last decision you make,” the SES warned.

“We don’t want to see people walking, playing or attempting to drive through flash floods.”