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Friday, September 16

3.50pm: Essential updates

Burrinjuck 97.6 per cent full
Blowering 87 per cent full
Murrumbidgee at 7 metres

The Murrumbidgee River is expected to peak at Narrandera on Saturday and may cause flooding around homes and businesses.

The SES will follow last night’s North Wagga meeting with one at East Wagga on Tuesday.

18,500ML of water are being released from Burrinjuck Dam daily.

Bureau of Meteorology predicts more rain for the weekend, but overall rainfall is nowhere near 2012 levels.

Wagga council is emptying Wollundry Lagoon to allow more space for stormwater, which is expected to help mitigate localised flooding in the city.

Floodwater is affecting roads right across the Riverina. The Newell Highway at Gillenbah is closed until at least next Thursday.

1.50pm

A WaterNSW spokesman said the state body is making releases from Burrinjuck Dam during a lull in downstream tributary flows to “create storage capacity to capture the next inflow surge”, likely arising from a rainfall event the Bureau of Meteorology are forecasting for midweek.

The dam is currently 97.6 per cent full and is releasing 5000ML more per day than it is taking in.

1.30pm

Wagga council’s acting general manager Robert Knight has explained what’s happening around the city.

“Council monitors 46 flood gates in the Wagga Wagga levee system,” he said.

“Flood gates are closed to stop river water flooding back into urban areas and are also discharge points for internal stormwater from the city.

“When flood gates are closed due to river flooding, temporary pumps need to be set up in strategic locations to pump internal stormwater out of the urban area and into the river.

“The current flood event has required set-up and monitoring of 13 temporary pumps.

“During flood events, and in preparation of any forecast rainfalls, pumps will also be used to drain water from Wollundry Lagoon. This allows increased stormwater detention in the lagoon to help mitigate any localised flooding.”

1.20pm

A flood meeting will be held for Gumly Gumly residents at East Wagga Kooringal Football Clubroom on Tuesday night from 6.30pm.

An SES Facebook post said the organisation did not expect any significant flooding in the coming weeks but wanted to ensure residents know how to prepare for future floods and where to obtain accurate information and updates on the current situation.

1pm

Narrandera update

According to the State Emergency Service’s Murrumbidgee region office, a moderate flood of 7.5 metres means about 55,800ML per day will flow past the town.

In comparison, the 2012 flood peak was 8.99 metres, or 212,000ML per day.

“This week's water levels are considerably lower than 2012 and should only produce some nuisance flooding in low-lying levels and a few road closures,” it posted on Facebook.

“Please take extra care on the roads and plan your travel in advance.

“Check local council pages for local road closure information and www.livetraffic.com for major route information.”

12.30pm

Bureau of Meteorology hydrologist Hugh Bruist has put the recent rainfall into perspective for those fearing a repeat of 2012.

“In 2012 Wagga had two bursts of rain, the first was 129mm in three days and then another of burst of rain amounting to about 78mm a few days later,” Mr Bruist said.

“The best part of 210mm fell across Wagga, whereas the city has seen 81mm over the past couple of weeks, nothing like it had in 2012.”

Mr Bruist said there was more rain coming on the weekend and another flood watch would be issued with school holidays starting soon.

“We’re expecting a bit more rain over the weekend, later today another flood watch will come out,” he said.

“But we’re certainly not looking at the kind of rainfall we saw in 2012.

“It’s been a while since the last big jump six days ago, that system is moving through so we won’t see the same situation we had back then.”

11am

A minor to moderate flood warning has been issued for the Murrumbidgee River at Narrandera and downstream.

Moderate flooding is current at Narrandera where a 7.5 metre flood peak is due tomorrow.

Water is expected to cover the Sturt Highway at Gillenbah and affect businesses in the area.

The Narrandera Caravan Park, the All Transit Motel, the Caltex Service Station, the vacated Ampol Service Station, the Newell Motor Inn and about seven houses in this area are likely to be surrounded by water over the ground.

Floodwater is likely to spread over the area between the river and the Main Canal, closing Old Brewery Road and Lizard Drive, restricting vehicular access to the pump house.

Two to three dwellings located on the eastern side of the highway and at least eight houses on the western side will be isolated by the closures and residents are likely to be evacuated. Bore pumps located on the western side will also be isolated.

Buckingbong Road will be closed where it crosses Old Man Creek at Brewarrana Bridge – road access to Brewarrana will remain open to the east.

Water will covers the Euroley Bridge road at a point in Leeton Shire about 1.5km south of the bridge over the Murrumbidgee. This road, which links Yanco with a point on the Sturt Highway west of Narrandera, will be closed.

Further rainfall is forecast which could produce some further river rises. The situation is being closely monitored and revised predictions issued if necessary.

Predicted River Heights

Narrandera – Peak near 7.5 metres Saturday with moderate flooding
Darlington Point – Reach 6.4 metres around next Tuesday with minor flooding
Carrathool – Peak near minor flood level of 7 metres on Sunday, September 25
Hay – Peak near moderate flood level of 7.5 metres at the end of September

Things you need to remember:

Never drive ride or walk through floodwater.

For emergency help in floods and storms, call the NSW SES on 132 500.

NSW SES website: www.ses.nsw.gov.au

FloodSafe website: www.floodsafe.com.au

Bureau of Meteorology weather forecasts and flood predictions including river height information are available at www.bom.gov.au

10am

Riverina floods 2016 | September 13 to 16

The SES are reminding people they are holding a meeting at North Wagga Community Hall at 6.30pm tonight.

SES and public works representatives will speak about how residents can prepare for flooding and how the SES can support them during a flood event.

Thursday, September 15

5pm:

Burrinjuck Dam 98 per cent full
Blowering Dam 86 per cent full
Murrumbidgee River level 7 metres at Wagga

The Murrumbidgee River is expected to remain at an elevated level while WaterNSW releases water to make airspace in Burrinjuck Dam.

30,000ML being released from Burrinjuck Dam daily.

Bureau of Meteorology predicts medium to high chance of rain across the weekend.

Floodwater from Wagga is making its way downstream and a moderate flood peak of 7.4 metres is expected to reach Narrandera on Saturday. Flood watch for Hay has been upgraded to a moderate flood level, with the peak expected to arrive at the end of the month.

Floodwater is affecting roads right across the Riverina. The Newell Highway at Gillenbah is closed until at least next Thursday.

4.30pm: NSW SES Murrumbidgee Region has posted pictures on Facebook showing the extent of the floods around the region.

Live Traffic NSW reports the Newell Highway, two kilometres south of Gillenbah, is closed due to flooding. It is not expected to be reopened until Thursday, September 22.

4pm: The Daily Advertiser spoke to businesses in flood-prone zones around Wagga on Thursday.

Noon: The Snowy Mountains have had a late season flurry of snow from the weather system passing over the state.

10.30am: Of course, the Riverina isn’t the only place copping a deluge from above. Check out the video below of the Great Ocean Road.

10am: The Bureau of Meteorology has released its latest flood warning:

It says minor flooding is current at Narrandera, from the earlier flood event, and moderate flooding is expected later this week. It also warns further rainfall is forecast that may lead to further river rises throughout the region.

Predicted river heights

Narrandera

- Peak near 7.4 metres Saturday (17/9/16) with moderate flooding

Darlington Point

- Reach 6.3m around next Tuesday (20/9/16) with minor flooding

Carathool

- Reach minor flood level (7m) around next Sunday (25/9/16)

Hay

- Reach moderate flood level (7.5m) end of September (29/9/16)

Balranald

- Peak below minor flood level early October

Latest river heights

Murrumbidgee R at Mt Macdonald 2.01m steady (6am Thursday)

Tumut R at Tumut 0.72m falling (8.50am Thursday)

Murrumbidgee R at Gundagai 5.07m falling (8.50am Thursday)

Murrumbidgee R at Eringoarrah 6.69m falling (8.45am Thursday)

Murrumbidgee R at Wagga Wagga 7.01m steady (8.45am Thursday)

Murrumbidgee R at Narrandera 7.23m rising (8.40am Thursday)

Murrumbidgee R Gogeldrie Weir 6.57m rising (7.45am Thursday)

Murrumbidgee R at Darlington Point 5.86m rising (9am Thursday)

Murrumbidgee R at Carrathool 5.54m rising (8.45am Thursday)

Murrumbidgee R D/S Hay Weir 6.24m rising (7.45am Thursday)

Murrumbidgee R D/S Maude Weir 6.01m rising (8am Thursday)

Murrumbidgee R at Redbank Weir 5.62m steady (7.45am Thursday)

Murrumbidgee R D/S Balranald Weir 5.53m rising (9am Thursday)

9.30am: City bracing for more rain next week

9am: SES Wagga has sand and sandbags available at its office, at 208 Fernleigh Road (behind the Rural Fire Service building), if any residents think they may need them in the future.

Wednesday, September 14

5.30pm: Wagga has received 99mm of rain in the first 14 days of September. The bulk of that rain fell on Saturday, September 10, where 48.4mm of the wet stuff fell from the skies.

The wettest September on record received 128mm and was in 1978.

3.30pm: Wagga City Council has updated its road closure list:

Road closures due to flooding

Prices Road off Gap Road

Boiling Down Road

The Rock Road off Churches Plain Road

Cambourne Lane

Rodhams Road

Dennis Crossing Road

River Road - Estella

Clarendon Road

Shepherds Siding Road at Downside

Wiradjuri Reserve

Siselys Road (due to River Road closure)

Mundowy Lane

Whitaker Road

Matthews Road

Hatwells Road

Island View Road

Wilks Park

Edward Street West

Flowerdale Road

Bullenbong-The Rock Road

Central Island Road

Fletchers Road

O'Sheas Road

Weir Road

Livingstone Gully Road

Lake Albert walkway is flooded in parts and Wagga Beach car park is closed.

Water over road at the following locations

Coolamon Road - open

Kohlhagens Reserve - open

Gregadoo to Ladysmith Road - open

River Road Alfredtown - open

Lockhart Road - open

Arajoel Road - open

11.50am: Journalist Stephen Mudd captured the extent of the flooding aboard an SES helicopter on Tuesday.

11am: The SES will hold a community meeting at North Wagga Community Hall on Friday evening from 6.30pm to talk about local flood risks.

Latest flood statement from the Bureau of Meterology:

Minor flooding has eased at Wagga where the river has dropped below the minor flood level.

Minor flooding is current at Narrandera (from the earlier flood event) where moderate flooding is expected later this week.

Further rainfall is forecast which could produce some further river rises. The situation is being closely monitored and revised predictions issued if necessary.

Predicted river heights/flows

Narrandera

- Peak near 7.4 metres Saturday [17/9/16] with moderate flooding

Darlington Point

- reach 6.3 metres around next Tuesday [20/9/16] with minor flooding

Carathool

- reach minor flood level [7.0 metres] around next Sunday [25/9/16]

Hay

- reach moderate flood level (7.5 metres) end of September [29/9/16]

Balranald

- peak below minor flood level early October

Latest river heights

Murrumbidgee R at Mt Macdonald 2m falling (7.15am Wednesday)

Tumut R at Tumut 0.57m steady (9.10am Wednesday)

Murrumbidgee R at Gundagai 5.74m steady (9am Wednesday)

Murrumbidgee R at Eringoarrah 6.75m rising (9am Wednesday)

Murrumbidgee R at Wagga Wagga 7.11m falling (9.30am Wednesday)

Murrumbidgee R at Narrandera 7.15m rising (9.30am Wednesday)

Murrumbidgee R Gogeldrie Weir 6.51m rising (8.45am Wednesday)

Murrumbidgee R at Darlington Point 5.76m rising (9am Wednesday)

Murrumbidgee R at Carrathool 5.36m rising (9am Wednesday)

Murrumbidgee R D/S Hay Weir 6.03m rising (8.45am Wednesday)

Murrumbidgee R D/S Maude Weir 5.84m rising (9am Wednesday)

Murrumbidgee R at Redbank Weir 5.61m steady (8.45am Wednesday)

Murrumbidgee R D/S Balranald Weir 5.49m steady (9am Wednesday)

9.30am: Indian Ocean driving wet weather

Tuesday, September 13

4.30pm: Wagga City Council has been busy moving dirt to needed areas to be as prepared as possible if the forecast rain brings another flood peak.

Acting general manager Robert Knight said council crews have been working “around the clock” to be ready if any flood event occurs.

“As part of this preparation, staff last week began creating two dirt stockpiles at Wilks Park and Island Road in North Wagga and this week began work at Copland Street,” Mr Knight said.

“Clay from the storage area near Flowerdale Lagoon is being transferred to the stockpiles as a precaution ahead of forecast rain. The material will be used to close parts of the levee if necessary.

“I would like to assure residents that these measures are simply precautionary and there should be no need for concern.”

Mr Knight said the council has been working closely with the SES.

2.30pm: More rain is on its way, according to the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM). There is an 80 per cent chance of rain this evening, a 90 per cent chance of rain on Wednesday, and a 70 per cent chance of rain on Thursday. Wednesday has been forecast to bring up to 25mm of rain.

BOM climatologist Felicity Gamble said climate models pointed to a wetter than average spring.

“This is largely influenced by the Indian Ocean Dipole, which is a weather pattern similar to La Nina and El Nino, where changes in temperature on the surface of the ocean can impact rainfall in Australia.”

The “strongly active” driver means the accuracy of forecasts is improved, according to Ms Gamble.

“When there’s a strong and active driver like this our skill in predicting the outlook is pretty high,” she said.

“The dipole index values are some of the strongest we’ve seen.”

Ms Gamble also said the coming week would see high rainfall totals across much of eastern Australia.

“Throughout the next week there will be considerable rainfull across much of the east,” Ms Gamble said.

“Given the Indian Ocean Dipole models, it suggests rainfall will remain reasonably strong.”

11.30am: The SES has reported the Murrumbidgee River reached its peak of 8.3 metres on Monday afternoon.

Predicted river heights downstream from Wagga

Narrandera: Peak close to 7.4m on Saturday with moderate flooding.

Darlington Point: Reach 6.3m around Tuesday, September 20, with minor flooding.

Carathool: Reach minor flood level (7m) on Sunday, September 29.

Hay: Moderate flooding (7.5m) by the end of September (29th)

Balranald: Peak below minor flood level in early October.

Source: SES

10am: Wagga City Council has updated its road closures list: