“Locally intense rainfall which may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding is also possible during this period,” the agency said on its website.
There were 122 flood warnings in place for New South Wales, Australia’s most populous state. Inundations were forecast to be worst in the northeast near Moree, and on the southern border around the town of Moama, about 780 km (480 miles) from Sydney.
Footage supplied by emergency services showed large parts of Moree, a town of around 7,500 people, submerged and people being dragged to safety from flooded rivers in other parts of the state.
Across the border, Victoria had 67 flood warnings, with parts of Kerang and nearby Echuca – a town of 15,000 on Australia’s longest river, the Murray – urged to evacuate.
The river had risen to around 94.80m on Sunday, similar to devastating 1993 flood levels, and was expected to reach a peak of around 95m later in the day.
Around 750 people have been rescued across the state in the last 10 days, the Victoria State Emergency Service said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Saturday 150 Australian Defence Force personnel were assisting in New South Wales and 350 troops in Victoria.
Last weekend, Albanese toured flood-hit parts of Victoria with state Premier Daniel Andrews after suburbs near the central business district of the state capital, Melbourne, were flooded.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said on Friday the widespread floods would dent Australia’s economic growth and increase inflation.
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