THE Murray River flood peak expected to reach Swan Hill early next week has been further downgraded.
Predictions by the Bureau of Meteorology issued yesterday were for a 2cm to 3cm late this week before peaking at around 4.70m
This is 2cm lower than the peak level measured on October 4 after local rainfalls of between 100 and 125mm (four and five inches).
For some 10 days after that deluge the river remained at 4.71m and late last week dropped to 4.69 and 4.68.
Yesterday’s official reading was 4.67m.
Moderate flood level at Swan Hill is 4.60m and major flood level is 4.70m
The peak predicted initially was for about 4.8m, which would have been 2cm over the highest Swan Hill reading this century, measured in November 1975.
Acting Regional Officer James Gustus, of the State Emergency Service in Swan Hill, said that although the latest indications would remove some anxiety for people along the river, constant watch would be maintained on levee banks along the Tyntynder Flats are in particular.
“A big supply of sandbags is available to meet and emergency that might eventuate should levees appear likely to collapse under the strain of the constant pressure applied by the high level,” he said.
Mr Gustus said local rainfall no longer appeared to pose a threat, but if heavy rain fell in the river catchment areas while the Murray remained high an emergency situation could be revived.
The Murray at Wakool Junction is expected to peak at 11.3m during the last week of this month- some 26cm below the 1975 peak.
The Weather Bureau expects the level at Boundary Bend to remain about 8.5m this week, rising to about 8.9m towards the end of month, with moderate flooding expected to continue until the middle of next month.
On Monday the Wakool at Stony Crossing was 8.54m and rising slowly, the Edward at Liewah was steady at 6.73m and the Murray and Wakool Junction steady at 11.10m.
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