Worst may be over for flood-stricken Gunnedah, but heavy rain forecast for North West has SES on high alert

Namoi River levels peaked at Narrabri on Tuesday, and with the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) forecasting significant rainfall across the region on Wednesday and Thursday, the community is on high alert.

State Emergency Service (SES) Superintendent Mitch Parker said water around Gunnedah is starting to recede, but crews are on watch and ready to act should the rainfall pose any new risks.

"We've got a number of external agency resources from NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS), Fire & Rescue NSW and NSW Volunteer Rescue Association on hand for our in water flood rescue activities," he said.

"The river peak for the Namoi is passing its way through Boggabri into Narrabri, we saw the first peak yesterday (Monday) morning around 5am and we're going to see a second peak at Wee Waa."

Superintendent Parker said the Narrabri township itself is not currently at risk, but further severe thunderstorm activity could change that.

The communities of Wee Waa and Pilliga are expected to be isolated well into the weekend - longer if there is any further rainfall.

"The latest reading of the Namoi around the Wee Waa area is 7.5 metres, so we're still going to see a major flood but the main consequences for the Wee Waa area is isolation," Superintendent Parker said.

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The NSW SES have partnered with the RFS to assist anyone who is isolated, with two RFS aircraft flying items daily in and out of Wee Waa and to local rural properties.

"Unfortunately, the last 12 months have seen a lot of rainfall and our soil moisture content is the highest in the state," Superintendent Parker added.

"All our catchments are full, there's not a dry gully or dam in the area.

"Previously we had reserves in the catchment for our dams, but we don't have that anymore, so any rainfall is spilt.

"We're working with Water NSW who are maintaining airspace operations in their state-owned dams to ensure they can try and manage the outflows with the inflows."

Landholders along the Namoi are reporting it's the worst flooding the region has experienced since the 1970s and 1984.

Volunteers from the Tamworth SES began door knocking in Gunnedah on Tuesday, offering clean-up assistance to impacted residents.

The Namoi River at Gunnedah peaked at 8.61 metres Sunday morning, causing widespread damage and inundation of homes in low-lying areas of the township.

On Tuesday afternoon it was at 7.81 metres and falling slowly.

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

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