Twenty emergency flood warnings are in place for residents in NSW and Victoria on Wednesday morning.
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Flooding continues in western and southern NSW as floodwaters make their way from Victoria.
More than 50 homes in Moama were evacuated on Tuesday afternoon as the Murray River water level rises.
Other key areas of concern for NSW SES crews include: Darling River (Bourke and downstream), Macquarie River (Warren), Lachlan River (Forbes and Condobolin) and Murray River (Moama/Echuca and downstream)
In NSW at 8.30am on Wednesday, emergency flood declarations were in place for: parts of Narranedera; east Moama; Backwater Creek (Moama); Murray Valley Regional Park; Picnic Point in Mathoura East; Moama Caravan and Tourist Park; and Cummeragunja.
There are a further 26 Watch and Act alerts for flooded areas across NSW, and 38 at Advice level.
"All that water that Victoria experienced last week and over the weekend is now coming to us," NSW SES public information officer Scott McLennan said.
"As the floodwater escapes Victoria, the impacts are going to be quite high."
In Victoria at 8.30am on Wednesday, emergency warnings were in place for:
- Echuca and Echuca Village
- Barmah and Lower Moira
- Bunbartha, Kaarimba, Mundoona and Zeerust
- Loddon River - Loddon Weir to Kerang
- Rochester
- Campaspe River downstream of Rochester (east)
- Campaspe River downstream of Rochester
- Shepparton
- Kialla West
- Mooroopna
- Orrvale
- Murchison and Murchison East
There are a further 20 Watch and Act alerts across Victoria, and 17 at Advice level,
The Bureau of Meteorology said the Murray River at Echuca and Moama is likely to reach major levels by Wednesday and could pass the peak of the 1993 flood which was 94.77m, from Friday.
"Heavy rainfall overnight Thursday into Friday has resulted in rapid river level rises and major flooding along the Goulburn and Campaspe Rivers," Victoria SES said.
"These floodwaters, combined with flows down the Murray Rivers, are expected to cause major flooding at Echuca and Moama from this week, October 19-21."
Severe thunderstorms on the way to flood hit areas
Heavy rainfall and severe thunderstorms are expected to hit flood affected parts of NSW and Victoria in the coming days, with a possible 100mm accumulated by the week's end.
"This is not good news for our already flood-affected areas," the Bureau of Meteorology's Dean Narramore said.
Rain and thunderstorms developing over central Australia will begin to move toward eastern states, including NSW and Victoria.
"As we move into Wednesday, we'll see that system move further eastwards, bringing widespread rain and storms," he said on Tuesday.
Thursday threatens "quite severe" thunderstorms through eastern Queensland and NSW, set to continue on Friday, he said.
A low pressure system will weaken but be followed by more rain at the weekend.
The downpours could cause renewed flooding along rivers in parts of the northwest, central west and southwest inland catchments, which are already inundated from months of persistent rain.
Flood of help for communities
In Victoria, there are approximately 1000 flood affected people staying in relief centres across the state.
A Victoria SES spokesperson said the emergency service had received more than 7200 requests for assistance since the flooding event started, with more then 750 flood rescues conducted.
'Too late to leave' orders remain in place across the state for Shepperton, Murchison, Mooroopna, Orrvale and Kialla West.
Charlton, Echuca and Echuca village and Bunbartha are also under 'evacuate immediately' orders from the SES.
Several 'Move to Higher Ground' and 'Watch and Act' warnings remain in place across Victoria's flood affected areas.
Overnight on Tuesday, major flooding happened at Appin South on the Loddon River and at Rochester on the Campaspe River with residents being told to move to higher ground.
Major flooding at Kerang from the Loddon River is expected overnight on Wednesday, with the water forecast to peak around the January 2011 level.
A sandbag levee is expected to help keep the majority of the town dry, but it could be cut off for up to seven days.
"Given that there's more rainfall due we would encourage anybody in flood prone areas to consult a local flood guide to set up a watch zone on the VicEmergency app and to have a have a pack ready and an escape plan," a Victoria SES spokesperson said.
Flood warnings are also in place for towns along the Loddon, Campaspe and Goulburn rivers.
- with Australian Associated Press
