With 64.8mm of rain recorded in the first four days of September in Parkes and more than 20mm forecast for today, the wet is not going to go away very soon and more flooding could be expected. If you are planning any road trips or outings for the weekend, it would be wise to check on road closures and conditions before leaving.
Several roads were closed during the week and might still be closed for the weekend. You can keep up to date using www.livetraffic.com or Parkes Shire Council’s social media pages for the latest information on road closures.
Parkes Shire Council has urged all motorists to exercise extreme caution when travelling in the wet weather. “Please avoid walking or driving through flood waters, as it may be deeper and faster flowing than anticipated. Additionally, the road may have suffered extensive damage hidden beneath the water.” The Forbes community was on moderate flood warning during the week, with the Red Bend College closing on Wednesday in anticipation of flooding. The Lachlan River peaked at 10.35m at the Iron Bridge on Wednesday slightly under the level of 10.55m recorded in the 2012 flood. The SES and volunteers filled thousands of sandbags to be distributed to properties in low-lying areas.
By Maggi Barnard