The river initially peaked at Dubbo at around 4.79 metres on Thursday morning, before falling to 3.98 metres around 4pm.

But water heights were set to almost double again, and force the closure of the Emile Serisier Bridge – for the second time in just six years – overnight.

NSW SES Macquarie region controller David Monk said the most dangerous point of the flood – when water levels dropped before the second peak – had passed, but warned flooding would persist into next week.

He called on motorists to not take any unnecessary risks.

“Stay out of any flood water and definitely don’t drive through flood water or flooded roads,” he said.

“A lot of roads get undermined by the water [and there could be hidden dangers]. It’s just not worth risking your life for the extra ten minutes it will take to drive around it.”

He said motorists had taken more care on Thursday morning after the local SES personnel assisted in two flood rescues in Dubbo and Geurie on Wednesday.

In total, the SES had received 42 requests for assistance in the 48 hours to 1pm Thursday, Mr Monk said.

“The majority of those have been related to localised flooding, a few leaking roofs,” he said.

“At this stage we’ll be going until Sunday at the earliest.”

He said it would probably be Thursday next week before the water levels returned to below flood levels, as the monumental amount of water flowed downstream.

The Upper Macquarie River at Bathurst had peaked near 3.9 metres around 4am on Thursday, while the Bell River reached its peak of about 6.3 metres around 4.30am.

Mr Monk said it was the flows from the Bell River peak that had caused the second peak in the Macquarie River overnight.

But he said the water from last night’s peak – around 0.4m lower than initially forecast – would clear much faster than the one on Thursday morning, as a lot of debris would have been washed away.

Full coverage and photos pages 4, 5, 12 and 13.