Heavy rain has lashed New South Wales and Queensland this past week, with more than 300mm of rain recorded in parts of both states. The culprit has been a slow-moving low pressure trough and a saturated atmosphere, prime conditions for widespread flooding rain. In particular, the slow-moving nature of the trough ensured that the same regions copped back-to-back drenchings over successive days.

In New South Wales, one of the worst hit locations was Moree. 205mm of rain fell in the town over the past week, with the majority dropping in under 48 hours. It was even heavier in surrounding locations, with weekly totals exceeding 300mm in places. This deluge resulted in major river flooding of the Gwydir and Mehi systems, with the Mehi River dividing the town of Moree as it peaked.

Across the border in Queensland the rain has been at least as heavy. Mitchell, in the Maranoa district, has collected a whopping 295mm or rain over the past 8 days. This 8-day reading smashes the 221mm average summer rainfall for Mitchell, indicating just how anomalous and severe this flooding has been.

The Maranoa River, which runs through Mitchell and Currawong, is peaking today. At Currawong the gauge has reached 10.75 metres, higher than the previous record-holding 1956 floods. Downstream at Mitchell the gauge recorded 9.35 metres this morning, also exceeding 1956 records, and is expected to peak around 10 metres about midday.

Major flood warnings are in force for many other locations including: St George, Dirranbandi and Charleville in the Maranoa; Canobie and Quilpie in the Gulf Country; Tilpa and Louth in the Upper Western; Wee Waa and Pallamallawa in the NSW North West Slopes and Plains.

While flood levels are peaking today there is some solace in the fact that the rain is starting to dry up. Starting in Queensland, heavy rain is tending to scattered showers and thick cloud is breaking up. While it is sill raining heavily through parts of northeastern New South Wales today, this should be the last bout of rain with drier conditions prevailing over the weekend.

Residents and travelers are still advised to exercise the utmost of caution as rivers will remain swollen and roads at risk until the inundation of rain has time to clear. Keep up to date with flood warnings and rain forecasts at weatherzone.com.au.