Wyangala Dam is spilling a significant amount of water towards already flood-soaked areas of the NSW Central West.
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Heavy overnight rain and flash flooding is inundating towns across NSW and Victoria, with emergency warnings active in many areas.
NSW flood emergency
At 2.45pm on Monday, there were seven emergency flood warnings for NSW, including for:
- Cowra Caravan Park and low lying areas - Evacuate now
- Canowindra - Evacuate now
- Derriwong - Evacuate now
- Eugowra - Move to higher ground
- Molong - Move to higher ground
- Albury south, outside the levee - Evacuate now
- Moama Caravan and Tourist Park
- Doctors Point - Shelter now
- Rural properties in east Condobolin - Evacuate now
- Walli Village-Collarenebri
- Alice Edwards Village, Bourke
- Darilngton Point Caravan Park and low lying areas
- Namoi Village
- Picnic Point, Mathoura East
- Murray Valley Regional Park
- Backwater Creek, Moama
- Cummeragunja
During the last 24hours the NSW SES has responded to more than 855 requests for assistance and 204 flood rescues.
Among those flood rescues were more than 140 in Eugowra, where 11 helicopters have been called in to assist.
In Eugowra, one in five residents have been rescued by helicopter or boat during the last 24 hours. Roads have been cut from floodwater, leaving the township completely isolated.
Wyangala Dam has increased its flow to 230,000 megalitres a day and is spilling a "significant amount of water into the Lachlan River catchment", NSW Incident alerts said.
"This is going to result in further rises downstream with Major flooding once again on the cards," the alert said.
Member for Orange Phil Donato, whose electorate includes Parkes and Forbes, said community spirit had been on full display in Molong during his visit on Monday morning.
"It's going to be crippling for businesses going into the Christmas period," he told ACM's Central Western Daily.
Earlier on Monday, an emergency helicopter was sent to rescue a man in Alectown in Central NSW who called for help at 4am after becoming trapped in his vehicle.
IN OTHER NEWS
In Forbes, three generations of the Perry family - Pip and Sally, Ben, and Max and Rupert have been evacuated along with their three chooks and dog Mally from their house on the Lachlan River.
Pip Perry, a third generation Forbes resident, said they received 100 millimetres of rain overnight and the flooding was the worst he has ever seen.
Grandchildren Max and Rupert had travelled from Sydney for the weekend to help clear out their grandparents flooded home, but they're now stuck by closed roads.
Meanwhile, police have charged a 63-year-old man in relation to driving into floodwaters in Forbes on Friday.
The incident prompted a multi-agency emergency response and the man's vehicle remains stuck in the flooded crossing.
Low-lying residents in Canowindra, in central NSW, have been told to evacuate immediately due to high river levels and dangerous flash flooding. An evacuation centre is open at Canowindra Public School.
Molong, also in central NSW, has been completely isolated by floodwater, and flash flooding has made it too dangerous to evacuate. Residents in low lying areas are warned to move to higher ground. An evacuation centre is open at Molong RSL.
Meanwhile, an Australian Defence Force helicopter has been sent to Molong to assist with a number of rescues, including retrieving people trapped in flood water and medical retrievals, and the operation is ongoing.
In Albury, two children had a lucky escape after the SES were called to rescue children playing in a storm water drain.
At Woodstock, in Central NSW, SES were called to assist six vehicles in flood water after a bridge washed away.
Flood watch in Victoria
There are 21 Watch and Act alerts current at 9am on Monday, with SES advising residents in Skipton told to move to higher ground.
"Rapid river level rises are occurring along the Mt Emu Creek, and minor flooding is occurring at Skipton," the SES said. "Moderate flooding is expected to develop Monday morning."
Flash flooding has hit Victoria's Mornington Peninsula, where residents were warned to stay indoors amid a sudden downpour.
A watch and act alert was issued for Mount Martha, Mornington, Hastings and Dromana on Monday morning as heavy rainfall caused localised flash flooding and building damage.
There is flood in Beaufort with residents told to stay indoors.
Murray River - major flood alerts for:
- Downstream of Liparoo to Red Cliffs
- Downstream of Red Cliffs to Yelta
- Between Yelta and the South Australian Border
Resident in this area should stay informed with major flooding possible at Wakool Junction and possible at Boundary Bend, Euston, Mildura and Wentworth. The SES warn it could be higher than the 1975 flood.
At Biggara, minor flooding has developed along the Murray River to Bringenbrong and is expected to extend downstream to Jingellic from Monday morning.
Murray River - minor to moderate flood alerts for:
- Biggara to Bringenbrong
- Bringenbrong to Lake Hume
Other flood warnings:
- Avoca River to Charlton Town - minor flooding
- Werribee River to Melton Reservoir - moderate flood warning
- Thomson River downstream of Wandocka - minor flood warning
- Kiewa River downstream of Mongans Bridge - moderate flood warning
- Tallangatta Creek - moderate flood warning
- Mitta Mitta River upstream of Lake Dartmouth - minor flood warning
- Mitta Mitta River downstream of Lake Dartmouth - moderate flood warning
For emergency help in floods and storms, call the SES on 132 500. In life threatening situations, call triple-0 immediately.
For road closure information visit livetraffic.com.au.
To view the latest flood and storm advice visit ses.nsw.gov.au or emergency.vic.gov.au.