Weather News

Murrumbidgee Valley under flood watch

A flood watch is in place for the Murrumbidgee Valley and the Upper Murray.

River rises of up to five metres are expected this weekend if heavy rain that is forecast tomorrow eventuates.

The Weather Bureau has issued a Flood Watch for the Murrumbidgee Valley and the Upper Murray.

SES region controller James McTavish says a wet winter has already boosted river levels.

"If we compare it to the rainfall event we had a few weeks ago where we had 45 millimetres in Wagga and a little bit more in the upper reaches in the catchment, the river rose about four metres in a little under 36 hours," he said.

"So if we look at that type of rainfall even where we had a little bit of capacity to repeat itself, we'd certainly be looking at a river rise on the Murrumbidgee upwards of four or five metres."

Up to 80mm of rain is forecast for Wagga Wagga this weekend.

Catchment areas are already soaked and the region's dams are between 70 and 80 per cent full.

Mr McTavish says locals should monitor the situation.

"If you look at the rainfall event they're predicting in the coming few days, that certainly has the potential with Tarcutta and Kyeamba and the Jugiong Creeks still running fairly nicely, two or three inches of rain in the right place certainly has the potential for some flooding along the Murrumbidgee or Murray Rivers," he said.

"Our concern though, is if we do get a big rainfall event that it coincides with snow melt. Then that may, I suppose, increase the rate of filling quite quickly and if it does coincide with rain down in this part of the world then we certainly have the potential for flooding."

- ABC

© ABC 2010

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