Flood crisis spreads to four states

THE floods crisis has now spread to four states.

THE floods crisis has now spread to four states.

Storms yesterday lashed Victoria and downpours in the NSW Riverina last night sparked fears that floodwaters might rise again.

Flood warnings have now been issued in South Australia, Victoria, NSW and Queensland after the forecast heavy rain and gale-force winds swept across the continent with a vengeance.

While Melbourne experienced flash flooding in parts, it was the north of the state that was worst hit, with winds gusting up to 100km per hour and more than 100mm of rain falling as the storm headed east.

The town of Cavendish in the state's west received 106mm over 24 hours, its highest rainfall recorded in that period in 100 years.

In NSW, where towns such as Wagga Wagga, Dubbo and Coonamble have watched floodwaters recede in the past 48 hours, the new downpour was greeted with dismay. Wagga Wagga Mayor Wayne Geale said that even though relatively few properties had so far been damaged, there was a real danger the evacuated suburbs and even parts of central Wagga Wagga could flood overnight.

With river levels already so high, there might be nowhere for the water that fell on the town to go, he said.

"It's pretty gloomy, just waiting for the storm to come," Mr Geale said.

Or as an SES spokesman told The Australian: "We are worried that tonight could be the night."

Evacuation orders remained in place for more than 700 anxious residents who have been unable to return to their homes since Sunday

Meanwhile, the State Emergency Service yesterday found the body of an elderly woman at Coonumbla, near Parkes, believed to have been dead since Saturday. Her vehicle was found 500m away.

Nine News reported last night that Denise Brownbill, 70, drowned only a week before her 45th wedding anniversary as she tried to get home.

Her grieving husband Don said: "I've lost someone who really counted."

More than 10,000 SES volunteers have now been mobilised across NSW.

The service has already performed 93 flood rescues, 51 of which were of people.

Up to 260 people remained isolated last night, although that number is expected to rise.

On Queensland's Sunshine Coast, rescue boats were last night combing the waters near Wappa Falls in their search for a 15-year-old boy who disappeared after diving into a swimming hole yesterday morning. 'Initial reports suggest the boy was with a friend when he jumped into the water and failed to resurface around 11.20am," police said.

Addtional reporting: Jared Owens, AAP