The SES said it expected the torrential river to peak between 12.7 to 12.8 metres.

In response, it sent a special taskforce to Wangaratta to assist with its flooding problems on Wednesday.

A relief centre has been set up at Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre at 33-37 Ford Street.

Benalla-based SES management officer John Newlands said the Ovens had peaked in Myrtleford and attention would shift downstream Wednesday evening.

"Our next focus will naturally be Whorouly, Markwood, [towns]tdown that way," he said. "And then in Wangaratta... we're understanding the peak could be from about 9pm onwards until daybreak."

Mr Newlands said isolated rural properties outside of the levy bank system in the Lower Ovens area would be prioritised by emergency services.

The Country Fire Authority has warned sewerage may be impacted in several Myrtleford streets following widepsread flooding.

It listed Standish and Maude Streets and Lewis Avenue as impacted areas.

But the CFA said no threat to the community was present and drinking water was safe.

North East Water admitted it was experiencing difficulties with parts of the sewerage system due to floods.

If sewerage services are impacted, contact North East Water on 1300 361 644.

Meanwhile, a man was lucky to escape injury after he drove his ute into floodwaters at Tarrawingee northwest of Myrtleford.

Emergency service workers plucked him to safety with a rope and tractor about noon.

Farmland along the Ovens was also inundated and the Bureau of Meteorology has predicted warmer weather from Thursday onward which could adversely affect crops.

Residents in Myrtleford were ordered to evacuate after rising floodwaters threatened homes on Tuesday evening into Wednesday.

SES crews worked through the night, door-knocking residents in low-lying areas who were told to leave their homes as the Ovens River swelled to 6.16 metres noon Wednesday, threatening properties and caravan parks.

In Myrtleford, one family was provided with emergency accommodation and 15 people took shelter with family and friends on Tuesday night.

Benalla-based SES management officer John Newlands said one house was inundated while others had been cut off by rising waters.

The floodwaters edged close to the rear of Myrtle Street’s Twin Valley Cafe on Wednesday afternoon but its owner, Carmel Kimball, was not concerned.

"We're not worried at all," she said.

"Last time we had the floods [in 2010] we weren't affected at all, it stayed off."

John Goodman, who has lived in Myrtleford for 38 years, said this flood was nothing like what he saw in 1993.

The SES gave him sandbags to protect his hair salon on Monday afternoon before the waters rose.

"This took a long time to come up," he said.

"I was concerned, but I wasn't really overly worried.”

But Mr Goodman empathised with residents downstream near Wangaratta, where he said the gushing surge of water would eventually end up.