Thousands evacuated as flood conditions continue to worsen

Evacuation warnings at Whittingham, Scotts Flat, Glenridding, Dunolly and Combo were issued on Sunday after the Hunter River rose to 12.71m at Singleton.

The SES received 300 requests for assistance on Saturday alone as extensive flooding hit northeastern NSW and the town of Gunnedah. Picture: Amy Burling

Thousands of people across NSW have been forced to evacuate their homes because of ferocious storms and life-­threatening flooding, with authorities worried the worst is yet to come.

Evacuation warnings at Whittingham, Scotts Flat, Glenridding, Dunolly and Combo were issued on Sunday after the Hunter River rose to 12.71m at Singleton.

Residents in Scone and the ­Eugowra community were also ordered to evacuate.

Major flooding in Gunnedah and Wee Waa in northeast NSW led to the State Emergency Service receiving 300 requests for assistance on Saturday alone, with emergency services carrying out multiple flood rescues that night.

Up to 20 homes in the area suffered over-floor flooding, and 100 had been assessed as damaged, after river levels in Gunnedah hit a peak near 8.6m - higher than the flood level of 8.2m experienced last Wednesday.

The SES warned major flooding was to be expected in Narrabri and Boggabri on Sunday night as flood water moved downstream from Gunnedah.

An SES spokesman said the service was most anxious about the overflow of the Lachlan River in western NSW as they waited for water levels to peak for a second time.

“Since this emergency occurred about a week ago, we’ve received 4300 requests for assistance - 839 were since midday yesterday,” an SES spokesman said on Sunday.

For this resident, the weather has gone to the dogs. Picture: Amy Burling / Severe Weather Australia

“The biggest concern at the moment is that Forbes at the Lachlan River today is expected to reach a second peak and then after that, it’s expected to peak for the first time at Condobolin.”

The Bureau of Meteorology forecast that the Hunter River would continue to rise at Maitland to about 8.4m on Monday, as the department issued warnings for worse weather conditions over the coming week.

Major flooding is also likely at Warren on Monday, with the Macquarie River expected to exceed moderate flood levels and peak at nearly 9m by Tuesday.

“Isolated thunderstorm activity and the potential for localised heavy downpours will remain a feature over the north of NSW through into next week as ­humidity remains high in this area,” a Bureau spokeswoman said.

“Tuesday and Wednesday next week will see an increase in the risk of thunderstorms over the state with a focus for potential heavy rain over parts of the state‘s north.”

The BOM highlighted the ­likelihood for more dangerous wet weather events during summer as La Nina passes over the east coast for a second year in a row.

“This severe weather season has a higher risk of flooding, with summer expected to be wetter than normal, meaning we are likely to have more rain,” the spokeswoman said.

“Given how wet our catchments are, any risk of rainfall and thunderstorms needs to be monitored closely.”

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet pleaded with residents to heed flood warnings and not risk driving through flood water after a dozen people were rescued.

“Our volunteers are on the frontline putting their lives at risk to keep everyone safe,” he told ­reporters.

NSW Emergency Services Minister David Elliott said there had been 12 flood rescues in the past 24 hours, and urged residents to “not keep (emergency services) busy”.

“That’s unacceptable. It puts the lives of those rescue teams at unnecessary risk and it also puts your own lives at risk,” he said.