A number of inland communities and properties in NSW remain isolated as floodwaters make their way through river systems and storms dump more rain on already saturated ground.
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The NSW summer has picked up where spring left off. Last month was the state's wettest on record, with some areas notching up more than triple the typical totals and floods starting on November 9.
The SES has more than 300 volunteers in the field dealing with storm damage and using boats to help with rescues and deliver supplies.
More severe storms were on the way on Thursday afternoon, with the Bureau of Meteorology warning of storms in the state's lower west and Riverina.
Isolated, severe thunderstorms were also predicted to dump heavy rain and large hailstones near the ACT border and just west of the Blue Mountains.
The SES has nine aircraft dropping emergency supplies to isolated communities and helping with rescues.
Some areas are likely to remain cut off for days as towns along the flooded Namoi River are inundated, amid concerns that further rain will exacerbate river rises and flooding.
Major flooding continues at isolated Wee Waa while there is moderate flooding at Narrabri and Bugilbone on the northwestern slopes of the New England region, with waters not expected to recede any time soon.
Flooding at Gunnedah has eased and river levels fell below the minor flood level early on Wednesday.
The central western town of Warren is isolated as the swollen Macquarie River causes major flooding while minor flooding is expected to continue at Wellington and Narromine due to releases from Burrendong Dam and tributary inflows.
The BoM said minor flooding is occurring at Boggabri and Goangra with moderate flooding possible at Goangra next week.
Minor flooding was also on the cards overnight for Grafton after heavy rain on Tuesday and Wednesday caused rises along the Clarence River.
SES spokesman David Rankine says floodwaters would recede slowly.
"We're talking a centimetre an hour so when it's that high it's going to take a few days for that water to drain away," he told Sydney radio 2GB on Thursday.
"We've been very busy in and out of Narrabri with two helicopters doing resupply with that community."
Federal-state disaster assistance was expanded to another 18 local government areas on Wednesday, bringing the total to 39.
That's almost 40 per cent of the state once metropolitan Sydney's 30 LGAs are excluded.
NSW Emergency Services Minister David Elliott said the funds "will help ensure councils and individuals impacted by this event have the support they need to get back on their feet".
Flood warnings are still active in catchments including the Severn, Macintyre, Gwydir, Namoi, Castlereagh, Macquarie, Bogan, Lachlan, Murrumbidgee, Murray, Warrego, Paroo and Barwon Rivers.
Australian Associated Press
