Tamworth and Gunnedah road closures: heavy rain and flooding causes road and school closures

Farrer, Oxley and Tamworth high schools are among those who offered a helping hand to HSC students trapped by rising floodwaters across Tamworth.

Numerous roads, listed below, remain closed and the city's only drive-through COVID-19 testing clinic at Carter Street has been surrounded by water.

NSW SES volunteers have been kept busy, called to pick up an elderly woman who required medical attention in an SES flood rescue boat and take her to the other side of flood waters where she could access help.

The woman is now being treated in hospital.

Calala Lane has reopened, but Tamworth Regional Council expects Jewry Street and Scott Road to remain closed for a few more hours.

A MODERATE flood warning has been issued for the Peel River with further rises possible as the peak river level from upstream heads towards Tamworth.

The Peel River had hit 5 metres at the Tamworth road bridge at 10am and remains steady.

Minor flooding is likely at the at the Namoi and Bugilbone rivers, as rain across the past 36 hours combined with wet catchment conditions cause the rivers to continue to rise.

The Namoi is expected to reach the minor flood level at 7 metres early on Monday afternoon.

The Bureau of Meteorology is unable to confirm reports of significant rainfall in the Pilliga area but rivers have been rising along Coxs Creek at Tambar Creek and Coxs Creek at Boggabri.

These flows and those from further upstream at Gunnedah may cause minor floods at Boggabri.

Flooding isn't expected along the Namoi River at Manilla or Carroll.

Members of the public are warned to stay out of flood waters and contact 000 in an emergency or the NSW SES on 132 500.

HEAVY rain has wreaked havoc with a school and roads closed due to flooding.

As of this morning, at least 14 roads were closed including major thoroughfares into and out of town, stranding Calala residents and cutting off access to the Kamilaroi Highway near Gunnedah.

Carinya Christian School is closed due to floods and some students taking the biology exam who live outside Calala will take the exam at Trinity Church on Craigends Lane.

Parents of other children at the school not taking exams have been asked to keep their kids at home.

Traffic is heavy on Bridge Street and members of the public are asked to avoid the CBD where possible to reduce congestion.

Read also:

The full list of road closures includes Jewry Street; Ebsworth Street from the traffic lights; Appleby Lane; Calala Lane; Scott Road; O'Briens Lane at Nemingha; Whitehouse Lane; Wallamore Road at the Tangarrata causeway; Warral Road at Impala Estate; Duri-Dungowan Road at Loomberah; Davidsons Lane; Daruka Road; Burgmanns Lane; and Rushes Creek Road at Manilla.

A minor flood warning has been issued for the Gwydir River at Bundarra, Gravesend, Pallamallawa and Yarraman.

Showers are expected to ease off today and Tuesday, but the rains are forecast to return from Wednesday and could cause more flooding.

More updates to come.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: