Backup crews from around the state are heading to Forbes in Central West New South Wales as authorities wait for floodwaters to peak and encourage hundreds of residents still in their homes to evacuate.
The Bureau of Meteorology was expecting the Lachlan River at Forbes Iron Bridge to break through the major flood level overnight and peak at 10.65m some time today.
That would put the river around the same level as the 2016 floods that peaked at 10.67m and affected at least 100 homes in the township.
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About 4am, bureau senior forecaster Rod Dickson said the river was at 10.3m and still rising, having already peaked upstream at Nanami.
State Emergency Service crews spent yesterday evening door-knocking about 800 low-lying homes asking residents to comply with an evacuation order.
Night shift deputy incident controller Superintendent Stuart Fisher said about a third to half of residents had stayed behind but urged them to reconsider at first light.
"It's obviously our preference for everybody to heed the evacuation order and to leave if safe to do so," he said, adding that the situation remained the same as yesterday.
"Given it's night at the moment, we would ask them to reassess the situation in the morning and heed our advice and leave."
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Forbes residents Darren Lincoln and Dina Peters were among those who didn't want to leave home for the evacuation centre at St Andrews Presbyterian Church on Harold Street.
"You're not going to get swept away in a big rush of water, it doesn't happen like that, so there's always plenty of time," Dina Peters said.
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Major flooding is expected to continue into this morning.
"Floodwaters will progressively close roads and access will be cut so do not delay moving," the SES has warned.
"Once floodwater begins inundating the area road access, water, sewerage, power, phones, and internet may be lost.
"If you remain in the area you will be trapped and it may be too dangerous for SES to rescue you."
In its latest Lachlan River flood warning on Tuesday afternoon, the weather bureau said major flooding was occurring at Nanami, upstream from Forbes, and was expected to peak in Forbes itself on Wednesday.
The next update is due at 10am.
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