The Murray River at Corowa is expected reach 7.4 metres this Friday, following Hume Dam releases increasing to 75 GL a day.
Local residents are being urged to ensure they have flood emergency plans in place with the Murray River at Corowa expected to reach 7.4 metres this Friday with further river rises expected.
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The Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) began increasing the release of water from Hume Dam on Tuesday in response to rainfall on Monday.
Corowa smashed the October rain record with 172.4mm falling last month, breaking the 160.6 mm rain record from October 1917.
The new record is more than triple the long-term rainfall average for Corowa 51.3mm, with the Bureau of Meteorology rainfall records at Corowa Airport dating back to 1890.
Releases from Hume Dam have now increased to 75 GL per day, up from 50 GL per day in response to inflows that peaked at 100 GL a day.
At 7.4 metres, Ball Park Caravan Park, Rowers Park and John Foord Oval will likely be inundated with water. Sandbagging and moving of equipment is set to occur for the Corowa Rowing Club shed, Wahgunyah Rowing Club shed and the Corowa Rutherglen FNC clubrooms.
People living in low lying areas are also encouraged to prepare, particularly as water may enter the lower end of River Street in South Corowa.
Furthermore, Federation Council is urging residents to limit travel as further flash flooding is likely to impact roadways.
The last time the Murray River at Corowa reached over seven metres was October 2016 where the river height peaked at 7.78 metres.
River operators continue to work around the clock to assess new inflow and weather information and manage releases accordingly.
If you live, work or holiday on a floodplain, be prepared for floods:
Develop a flood emergency plan www.ses.nsw.gov.au www.ses.vic.gov.au/get-ready
Sign up for WaterNSW’s Early Warning Network to get alerts of Hume Dam releases www.waternsw.com.au/supply/ewn
Check the Bureau of Meteorology website to receive latest information including warnings, river conditions and rainfall in your area www.bom.gov.au/australia/warnings www.bom.gov.au/australia/flood
Stay informed: check weather warnings, listen to emergency broadcasters, talk with neighbours.
Have an emergency kit – a ‘survival’ kit with 3 days’ supply.
