Minor Flood Warning Issued for Paroo River at Willara Crossing, New South Wales

Alert Details

A Minor Flood Warning (IDN36632) has been issued by the Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology for the Paroo River in New South Wales. This is the fourth flood warning for this event, issued at 9:49 am AEDT on Saturday, 21 February 2026.

Affected Areas

The warning specifically covers the Paroo River (NSW) and the Paroo River at Willara Crossing. Recent rainfall across the Paroo catchment has resulted in river level rises, with flood waters arriving from the Paroo River in Queensland.

What You Should Do

Residents and travelers 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 ahead to avoid driving on flooded roads.
• Monitor local media and the ABC for updates.
• For emergency assistance, contact the NSW SES at 132 500. In life-threatening emergencies, call 000 immediately.

Expected Conditions

Minor flooding is currently occurring at Willara Crossing. As of 9:00 am Saturday, the river level was recorded at 1.00 meter and rising slowly. The river is expected to peak near 1.10 meters on Saturday afternoon. The water level is likely to remain above the minor flood level of 0.70 meters for the next several days. Further showers are forecast for the region over the coming days.

Timeline

The current warning is effective as of Saturday morning. A minor peak is anticipated Saturday afternoon, with renewed rises possible starting late Sunday as a second flood peak, currently near Caiwarro in Queensland, moves downstream. The Bureau of Meteorology will issue the next update by 11:00 AM AEDT on Sunday, 22 February 2026.