Tamworth weather: Namoi River at major flood level in Gunnedah; Oxley Highway closed; the aftermath of Peel River flood is revealed in Tamworth

Major flooding has been occurring in Gunnedah for most of the day but the water is expected to continue to rise until the peak hits at about 9pm on Tuesday.

State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers have been working hard to fill and distribute sandbags and respond to jobs as the water creeps up.

Dozens of local roads have been closed across the Gunnedah shire as the Namoi River rages and spreads across low-lying areas.

The following roads remained closed in the Tamworth region on Tuesday afternoon, according to council:

The clean-up is now in progress for Tamworth after the flood peak hit on Monday and the water began to subside.

Debris was left behind by the floodwaters in areas like Jewry Street and Scott Road.

Find the latest warnings here: http://www.bom.gov.au/nsw/warnings/flood/peelandnamoirivers.shtml.

Find out what to do in a flood here: http://www.bom.gov.au/nsw/warnings/flood/peelandnamoirivers.shtml.

Find the latest road closures here: https://www.livetraffic.com/.

Call the SES for help on 132 500 or in a life-threatening emergency call Triple Zero (000).

Schools have revealed their COVID-19 contingency plans helped them pivot in an emergency situation in Tamworth on Monday when floodwaters created an island at Calala and prevented some students from making it to their Higher School Certificate (HSC) exams.

Students and staff from Tamworth High School, Oxley High School and Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School worked together to keep young brains calm in the exam hall.

Deputy principal at Tamworth High School Megan Marshall said the operation ran smoothly as the schools were already in an agreement to support one another if COVID-19 caused disruptions.

"COVID was a good thing in the sense that we do have contingency plans in place, more so than ever before, around exam centres not being available for any reason but the schools all worked together to make sure the kids remained our number one priority," she said.

Students and their families were alerted about alternative arrangements via calls, texts and social media.

Depending on which side of the city they were stuck on, each school welcomed students who were supported on site by NSW Education Standards Authority staff, invigilators, and teachers.

"They were more than accommodating to students, our priority was to make sure students remained calm and assured that everything was under control there was no fuss or bother," Ms Marshall said.

Despite the change in location Ms Marshall said students were incredibly resilient.

"They really did just roll with the punches," she said.

"The group of students we had here were all laughs and sunshine before they went into their biology exam."

More rain is forecast later this week.

THE AFTERMATH of the flooding is emerging as the water recedes across Tamworth, but major flooding is expected up the road in Gunnedah and several thoroughfares across the region remain closed.

The Oxley Highway is closed to all traffic between Tamworth and Gunnedah and travellers who need to go between the towns must take a one-hour detour via Willow Tree.

Gunnedah is bracing for a major flood today as the Namoi River rises from recent rainfalls and releases from Keepit Dam.

The peak of the Peel River flow hit Carroll Gap early this morning and combined with the raging Mooki River, which will also bring more water surging through Gunnedah.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has issued a major flood warning for the town, with the peak expected later tonight.

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The major flood level could be reached about midday today and the river could rise to more than eight metres by 9pm tonight, the BoM warning said.

The Peel River in Tamworth peaked on Monday but minor flooding was still occurring on Tuesday morning and water is still pooled in some low-lying areas, causing roads to remain closed.

Tamworth Regional Council staff have been checking roads this morning but as at 10am, the following roads remain closed:

Jewry Street, Scott Road and Calala Lane all reopened on Monday after being swamped with floodwater.

State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers across the region are working hard as the flooding event continues and more rain is on the horizon.

Tamworth and Gunnedah crews were deployed to Tambar Springs overnight after a woman in a Subaru allegedly drove around a road closed sign and entered floodwaters before becoming trapped.

The occupants of the car - including a dog - were safely rescued, according to the SES.

Emergency services have urged locals to never walk, ride or drive through floodwater because it can get very dangerous very quickly.

Keepit Dam is at 101 per cent capacity, Chaffey Dam is more than 103 per cent full and spilling, and Copeton Dam is approaching full.

More rain is expected to fall throughout the week.

Find the latest warnings here: http://www.bom.gov.au/nsw/warnings/flood/peelandnamoirivers.shtml

Find out what to do in a flood here: http://www.bom.gov.au/nsw/warnings/flood/peelandnamoirivers.shtml

Find the latest road closures here: https://www.livetraffic.com/

Call the SES for help on 132 500 or in a life-threatening emergency call Triple Zero (000).

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