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Rain easing in NSW but river risk remains

Downstream residents are calling for Warragamba Dam to lower its water levels to stop flooding. <i>Photo: AAP</i>

Downstream residents are calling for Warragamba Dam to lower its water levels to stop flooding. Photo: AAP

Rain is easing in New South Wales but widespread flooding is still occurring as dams and rivers overflow onto saturated grounds and another front is threatening to bring further downpours later this week.

The state’s west and Upper Hunter are copping the worst of it and the State Emergency Service has rescued 13 people from flood waters in the past 24 hours.

SES spokeswoman Vanessa Hutchinson says 13 people have been rescued from flood waters in past 24 hours and there were 226 calls for help.

“Since the beginning of this event we’ve received over 4400 requests for assistance.

“We’ve had 132 flood rescues since this widespread flooding commenced,” she told Sydney radio 2GB.

More rain is expected on Tuesday and Wednesday and flood warnings are current for the Hunter River and the NSW inland rivers, but flooding is no longer expected in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley.

There’s moderate flooding at Singleton and minor flooding along the Hunter River at Maitland where river levels are expected to peak below the moderate flood level on Monday morning.

Forecast rainfall on Tuesday and Wednesday may cause renewed rises and flooding along the rivers in the north west slopes, northern rivers and mid-north coast.

In the central west, the Namoi and Lachlan rivers are posing the biggest risk.

There’s a minor to major flood warning for the Namoi River at Gunnedah, Boggabri, Narrabri, Wee Waa, Bugilbone and Goangra.

River levels at Gunnedah peaked at 8.61 metres on Sunday morning, with major flooding and the river level is at 8.59 metres and steady.

Forecast rainfall on Tuesday and Wednesday may cause further river rises and flooding in the Namoi River catchment, with homes at Narrabri at threat of flooding.

The flood peak is approaching Warren Town along the Macquarie River in the central west, where moderate flooding is expected.

Further rises are expected, with major flooding likely on Monday.

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