The Lachlan River has been placed on flood watch based on Bureau of Meteorology predictions and Water NSW says teams are prepared for flood operations with Wyangala on the list of dams likely to spill.

Wyangala Dam (at 99.6 per cent) storage has been reduced from flood surcharge level (100 per cent), after receiving consistent inflows over the past week.

Releases are currently at 16 GL per day and will be scaled back in line with rain forecast and inflows.

WaterNSW Executive Manager of System Operations, Adrian Langdon said based on weather forecasts from the Bureau of Meteorology and in consultation with local airspace advisory panels, WaterNSW has already released large volumes from dams in flood-prone river valleys.

"As has been the case for months, most WaterNSW dams are at or near capacity so we are working with the Bureau to schedule dam releases between rain events to capture the next inflows, and then cutting back releases as the rain approaches to reduce downstream impacts," Mr Langdon said.

With the Bureau of Meteorology continuing to forecast a climate outlook that "indicates rainfall over the coming months is likely to be above average" WaterNSW will continue to make airspace releases as required.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the Lachlan River was at 3.381m and rising at the Iron Bridge in Forbes (the minor flood level is 8.8m); and at 0.953m at Cottons Weir (the minor flood level is 3.5m).

Upwards of 40mm is on the radar for the catchment region across both Cowra and Forbes shires, while 25mm is predicted for Orange on Friday and a further 10 is forecast for Saturday, with the latter expected to reach a top temperature of just nine degrees Celsius.

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