Australia Weather News

The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) says two weather events are expected to bring more heavy rain, flash flooding, and weeks of isolation for some communities already affected by floodwater.

SES Commissioner Mike Wassing said northern NSW could expect heavy rain to fall on already saturated catchments over the next 24 to 72 hours, bringing fast river rises and flash flooding.

He said some communities in western parts of the state could be isolated for more than two months.

"The significant rainfall in Queensland is slowly making its way through the catchment and moving through western New South Wales," Mr Wassing said.

"We are talking of isolation potentially for six to 10 weeks for some of those communities."

He said there were 20 warnings in place from the coast to the west of the state.

"We have 750 SES members already pre-deployed to those areas," he said.

'Been through it before'

Wee Waa in the state's north west has been experiencing intermittent periods of isolation after heavy rain at the weekend cut roads in and out of town.

With more rain predicted to fall overnight and into Wednesday morning, the town was likely to become isolated again.

But local newsagent Roxanne Whitton said most residents had seen it before.

"It is a terrible funny feeling knowing that you are sitting here, isolated," she said.

"There is nothing you can do, but you do feel safe though with all our services.

"Most of us have been through it before."

SES Assistant Commissioner Colin Malone said in a statement that moderate to major flooding was likely on the Paroo and Warrego Rivers, similar to levels seen during the 1990 and 2010 floods.

He said more than 300 people in Wanaaring, Hungerford, Yantabulla, Fords Bridge, Gumbalie and Enngonia could be impacted by ongoing isolation if major flooding occurred from Sunday.

"Flood waters are slow moving in western catchments and flooding is expected to remain at moderate to major levels for some time as floodwater moves into the Darling Basin system," Mr Malone said.

"This will isolate communities for extended periods while flooding peaks and then recedes."

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a major flood warning for the Paroo River and a moderate flood warning for the Namoi River.

There was a flood watch in place for six coastal catchments, with minor flooding expected in the Wilsons, Richmond, Clarence, Bellinger and Kalang, Upper Macintyre and Gwydir rivers.

SES incident controller for the north eastern zone, Scott McLennan, said he expected the heavy rain to start on Wednesday with possible thunderstorms.

"We are asking people to reduce their travel when the rain starts falling to avoid any possible flash flooding," he said.

The State Emergency Service is asking people to be vigilant and not alarmed and to avoid driving through floodwater.