Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he is concerned about two men missing in floodwaters after their ute was washed off the road in central NSW, as continued flooding puts the state in the grips of a "dangerous time".
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The pair were riding in the back tray of a ute swept off the road while being driven across a spilling causeway about 50km from Boorowa, west of Goulburn on Monday night.
Police say two others in the cab were able to free themselves and get to safety.
"Can I just express my concern at the news that authorities and volunteers are searching for two men who've gone missing in Boorowa," the prime minister said on Wednesday.
"This is a dangerous time. These floods are having a real impact.
"We've already seen a loss of life on the east coast, and I just hope that we receive some positive news ... in the coming hours."
It comes as snow, ice and flooding hit parts of inland NSW, with spring bringing an unexpected icy snap to areas of the Central Tablelands.
Snow took many inland residents by surprise on Wednesday, when powder was spotted in Orange and the village of Yetholme, between Lithgow and Bathurst.
"Snow, ice and flooding all around," Deputy Premier and Bathurst MP Paul Toole said in a Facebook post on Wednesday, sharing photos of snow-covered paddocks around the village.
Meanwhile, multiple river systems across the state are in flood, with 103 warnings active and 13 evacuation orders in place.
The State Emergency Service undertook 39 flood rescues in the 24 hours to Wednesday morning while efforts have resumed to locate the two men missing in the Southern Tablelands.
In the Riverina, more rain is expected as the Murrumbidgee River rises and Burrinjuck Dam spills, causing major flooding at Gundagai where levels exceeded 1989 flood levels on Wednesday.
Downstream major flooding is possible at Wagga Wagga on Thursday.
Further along the Murrumbidgee, major flooding continues at Hay and moderate inundation at Narrandera, with major flooding possible early next week.
Major flooding is expected along the Lachlan River at Nanami and Forbes, where an event similar to one last experienced in June 1952 is possible from Friday.
Further downstream, major flooding continues at Jemalong, Condobolin, Euabalong and Hillston.
The Bureau of Meteorology also expects major flooding on the Bogan River at Nyngan, Mulgawarrina and Gongolgon.
Flooding is also likely for Albury, after the Murray-Darling Basin Authority increased its releases of water from Hume Dam in response to continued rain.
Combined with inflows from the Kiewa River downstream of the dam, the Murray River is expected to approach or exceed the major flood level in the city, which is one of the state's largest regional centres
As of Wednesday, the dam was 97 per cent full.
Evacuation orders are in place for residents in Moama and Mathoura on the Murray, at Cowra in the state's central west and Tumut, in the foothills of the Snowy Mountains.
Australian Associated Press
