Local rivers are gaining momentum as parts of the North West, Central West and South West Inland Rivers have been flagged for possible flooding from late today. 

A trough and cold front are bringing widespread moderate rainfall to NSW today and tomorrow with severe thunderstorms possible. 

The rain means that minor to moderate flooding is possible along parts of the Gwydir, Namoi, Castlereagh, Macquarie, Bogan and Lachlan rivers. 

Flood warnings are already current for the Darling River. 

The floods follow continued rain across the region, where catchments are currently wet or saturated from rainfall and many NSW dams are near or at capacity. 

SES Western Zone Deputy Commander Josh Clarke said that continued flood watch warnings throughout the region isn’t an excuse to grow careless. 

“Last weekend we saw…at Canowindra there were 14 millimeters of rain within a few hours…the river responded rapidly and went straight into moderate flooding,” Deputy Commander Clarke said. 

“This is all due to the extremely saturated ground and the fact that all the paddocks, creeks and dams on farming land are completely at capacity so whenever it rains now, the water just runs straight into the creeks and rivers,” he said. 

Catchments likely to impacted by flooding include:

• Gwydir River - minor to moderate flooding
• Namoi River- minor to moderate flooding
• Castlereagh River - minor to moderate flooding
• Macquarie River to Burrendong Dam - minor to major flooding
• Bogan River - minor flooding
• Lachlan River to Cotton’s Weir - minor to moderate flooding

“We are likely to see renewed flooding around Warren again. It’s already there, but it’ll continue to rise and potentially reach major flooding,” Deputy Commander Clarke said. 

According to Deputy Commander Clarke, there are already locals who are feeling the impacts of flooding. 

“There are people that are stranded at the present time who are bogged on roads that the SES is assisting to recover and make those people safe,” he said. 

“It’s really important to watch where you’re driving, drive to conditions and obey the road closed signs across the area.”

Doing those activities that will help prepare for bushfires - such as clearing gutters and keeping lawns tidy - is also said to help in storm preparations. 

“Those are the same precautions that will benefit you for bushfire as well as the storm season which is approaching so you are preparing your house for multiple natural disasters,” Deputy Commander Clarke said. 

This Flood Watch means that people living or working along rivers and streams must monitor the latest weather forecasts and warnings and be ready to move to higher ground should flooding develop.