The Lachlan River has reached the major flood level at Cottons Weir in NSW's Central West, and is expected to reach the major flood level at Jemalong Weir on Friday (November 19).
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The Bureau of Meteorology's Friday morning flood bulletin stated the river remained near the major flood height (10.55m) at the Iron Bridge in Forbes, after peaking near 10.53m about 1pm Thursday.
The peak is now near Cottons Weir, which is at 7m and slightly below the 2016 flood levels.
Downstream of Forbes is seeing moderate flooding, with Jemalong Weir expected to reach the major flood level of 7.7m on Saturday with further rises to 7.8m possible.
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The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a warning that further significant rainfall is predicted this weekend, and that the Lachlan River in particular could see renewed rises that could cause prolonged flooding.
Water NSW is releasing 30GL a day from Wyangala to create airspace in anticipation of this.
After what seemed an extraordinarily long wait for the water to arrive in Lake Forbes, it has done, and a Friday morning drive shows water lying around the swimming pool, closing the Newell Highway / Sherriff Street bypass from the traffic lights towards the lake, and impacting some of the businesses at the Lower Rankin Street end of Lake Forbes.
Lakeside ovals are inundated, and the road to Red Bend Catholic College and the Botanical Gardens is also closed by floodwater.
A reminder again that numerous local roads and roads to Cowra, Grenfell and Eugowra are impacted by floodwater.
Please go online to Forbes Shire Council's website or Facebook page, or check Live Traffic for updates.
Please don't drive into floodwaters.
