Flood Watch Issued for Far Western New South Wales and Murrumbidgee River Catchment

Alert Details

The Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued a Flood Watch (IDN36503) for parts of Far Western New South Wales and the Murrumbidgee River Catchment. This alert serves as early advice for possible flooding within specified catchments as a trough moves across the state.

Affected Areas

The following geographic regions and catchments are included in the watch area:

• Far Western NSW: Bulla-Bancannia District, Bynguano-Lower Barrier Ranges, Cooper Creek, Danggali Rivers and Creeks, Darling River, Lake Frome, and Mount Gunderbooka to Wokabity Lake.
• Murrumbidgee Catchment: Lower Murrumbidgee River, Tumut River, Upper Murrumbidgee River to Burrinjuck Dam, Cooma Creek, and Murrumbidgee River to Wagga Wagga.
• Other Regions: Queanbeyan and Molonglo Rivers, Willandra Lakes, and the Paroo River (where a minor flood warning is already current).

What You Should Do

Residents in the affected areas are advised to take the following safety precautions:

• Do not drive, walk, swim, or play in floodwater as it is dangerous.
• Stay away from flooded drains, rivers, streams, and waterways.
• Obey all road closure signs and plan travel ahead to avoid flooded routes.
• Check road conditions before traveling, as road access may be impacted and some communities may become isolated.
• For emergency assistance, contact the SES at 132 500. In life-threatening emergencies, call Triple Zero (000).

Expected Conditions

A slow-moving trough is drawing moisture southwards from central Australia, bringing widespread rainfall. Heavy to locally intense falls are likely. Because catchments are already wet from recent rainfall, they are expected to respond quickly. While river levels along the Barwon-Darling, Murrumbidgee, Tumut, Queanbeyan, and Molonglo rivers are currently expected to remain below minor flood levels, localized flooding and overland inundation are likely.

Timeline

The alert was issued at 12:53 pm AEDT on Monday, March 2, 2026. Widespread rainfall is forecast to extend eastwards through Monday and into Tuesday, March 3, 2026. The situation is changing quickly, and residents should monitor local media for updates.