Flood Watch - Macleay River

Published on 20 September 2022

The Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology has issued early advice of possible flooding in the Macleay River catchment between Wednesday and Friday.

A Flood Watch has been issued for the New South Wales North West, Central West and South West Inland Rivers and some coastal rivers. The Flood Watch no. 3 was issued at 2:03 pm EST on Tuesday 20 September 2022

RENEWED FLOODING POSSIBLE FOR PARTS OF THE NEW SOUTH WALES NORTH WEST, CENTRAL WEST AND SOUTH WEST INLAND RIVERS FROM LATE WEDNESDAY FLOODING POSSIBLE IN MACLEAY, COLO AND LOWER HUNTER RIVERS AND WOLLOMBI CREEK FROM THURSDAY FLOOD WARNINGS CURRENT FOR SEVERAL NEW SOUTH WALES INLAND CATCHMENTS

A low pressure system is forecast to bring widespread moderate rainfall to New South Wales during Wednesday and Thursday. Rain is expected to initially develop in the west and is likely to spread through most of the state on Wednesday into Thursday as the low makes its way to the east during the later part of the week.

The highest falls are likely through the inland, particularly in the Central West and North West Slopes and Plains. This rainfall may cause flooding along rivers in parts of the North West, Central West and South West inland catchments from late Wednesday, many of which are experiencing ongoing flooding due to previous rainfall in recent weeks. Flooding is also possible in several coastal river catchments which include Macleay, Colo and Lower Hunter Rivers and Wollombi Creek from Thursday.

Catchments are currently wet or saturated in the inland catchments from rainfall in recent weeks. Many NSW dams are near or at capacity.

The weather system may cause flooding for the inland catchments listed from late Wednesday and for the coastal catchments listed from Thursday.

Catchments likely to be affected include: Macleay River - minor flooding

The Bureau of Meteorology has explained the weather in this Facebook video.