The Murrumbidgee River was expected to rise at 10.9 meters - the highest peak since 1844 - later today at around 3 p.m causing thousands of people to evacuate and leave their properties. This level have exceeded the 10.7 meter height of Wagga Wagga according to the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) and weather bureau.

Due to this major flooding forecast, thousands of residents have evacuated from southern NSW. People were asked to move out while heavy rains continued to create flood along the southern and central regions of NSW. This condition was predicted to continue until Thursday according to Jake Phillips, Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster.

Weather forecasters said Riverina city's floodbank might be breached today intensifying the orders to leave from Wagga Wagga.

Steve Pearce, Deputy SES Commissioner, said 65% of the town had moved out already.

Evacuation orders were given to around 8,000 people from the Wagga Wagga Central, Wagga Wagga CBD, Flowerdale and other areas nearby yesterday 9 p.m. according to Stephanie Heard, SES spokeswoman.

She said, there will be around 3,000 houses at risk of flood.

About 100 residents from Barellan were also issued with evacuation orders and 340 from Urana. In North of Wagga Wagga, 600 properties were expected to be left and 140 properties in the East as authorities continued to issue orders to leave.

The water level sweeping through Forbes is expected to reach 10.4 meters today as forecasted by the weather bureau.

Although the rain has calmed down a bit, rivers continue to rise as it takes time before the water starts to move to the different catchments.

Peter Zmijewski, weather bureau's senior meteorologist, has predicted that no significant rainfall will come on the rest of the week.

Latest Media Release

An urgent evacuation order and Emergency Alert message has been issued for Wagga Wagga as a result of flooding.

NSW State Emergency Service and Police are urging members of the Wagga community to leave now and do two key things:

If possible go and stay with family or friends who are not flood affected, and call family and friends to let them know where you are.

Secondly, if you do not have alternate accommodation, the best option is to go to Albury where emergency accommodation can be arranged.

Those being evacuated are not to drive, ride or walk through floodwater.

Members can contact the Public Information and Inquiry Centre on 1800 227 228 to register their movements, as well as for all flood related information including road closures and welfare assistance.