Flood watch for Murrumbidgee River, Tumut River as storms dump heavy rain across Riverina

The Bureau of Meteorology and the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) have put communities along the Tumut River and the Murrumbidgee River to Wagga on notice for minor flooding.

In an alert issued on Thursday morning, the agencies said moderate to heavy rainfall associated with a low pressure system had the potential to cause minor flooding in central-western and south-western NSW river catchments.

Those catchments include the Belubula, Tumut and Murrumbidgee rivers, where minor flooding is possible from late on Thursday. Minor flooding is also possible in the Upper Murray River.

At noon on Thursday, the height of the Murrumbidgee River at Wagga was 3.81 metres and steady. The minor flood level in the city is 7.3 metres.

A flood watch is an initial alert for potential flooding. Specific warnings will be issued if minor flood level is likely to be exceeded.

However, residents living near rivers have been urged to monitor the latest weather forecasts and warnings, and be ready to move to higher ground should flooding develop.

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"Never drive, ride or walk through floodwater. Floodwater can be deceptive and dangerous," the SES said.

Farmers have been encouraged to move pumps, animals and equipment to higher ground before roads close and organise for enough stock feed and water for animals.

On Thursday, Burrinjuck Dam was at 91.9 per cent of capacity, while Blowering Dam was at 94.0 per cent.

The alert comes after significant rainfall was recorded across eastern parts of the Riverina in the 24 hours to 9am on Thursday, including 38 millimetres at Burrinjuck Dam, 24mm in Young and 22mm at Tumut.

Elsewhere in the region, there was 22mm in Hillston, 17mm at Booligal, 8mm in Griffith and 6mm in Wagga.

Bureau rainfall totals for the seven days to 9am on Thursday reveal the big winners in the storm lotto so far have been Hillston (63mm), Booligal (49mm), Burrinjuck Dam (43mm), West Wyalong (38mm), Young (38mm), Gundagai (33mm) and Tumut (31mm). The total for this rain event to date in Wagga is 15mm.

Showers and storms are expected across NSW for the remainder of the week, according to the bureau.

The unsettled and stormy conditions across much of the state are being caused by a trough over western NSW that is gradually moving east.

There is a very high chance of showers across the Riverina on Thursday and the chance of thunderstorms, which could possibly be severe.

Earlier on Thursday, a thunderstorm asthma alert was issued for areas north of Wagga, due to moderate pollen counts and forecast storms.

The bureau said conditions are expected to settle somewhat on the weekend after the trough reaches the Tasman Sea.

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