The Bureau of Meteorology has issued an initial Flood Watch for the Wilsons and Richmond Rivers for possible minor to moderate flooding from Tuesday.

A slow-moving trough is forecast to become established within a very moist tropical airmass over southeast Queensland and northeast New South Wales into early next week.

Enhanced widespread heavy shower and thunderstorm activity is expected within the vicinity of the trough from Sunday through to Tuesday, with locally heavy rainfall likely.

The bureau has forecast 7mm - 35mm for Monday and 3mm - 50mm for Tuesday.

The Northern Rivers catchments are wet following recent rainfall and storms.

Heavy rain may result in minor to moderate flooding from Tuesday across parts of the Northern Rivers.

Catchments likely to be affected include:

• Tweed and Rous Rivers: minor flooding
• Brunswick River and Marshalls Creek: minor flooding
• Wilsons River: minor flooding
• Richmond River: minor flooding
• Upper Macintyre River: minor flooding
• Gwydir River: moderate flooding

For the latest flood and weather warnings see www.bom.gov.au/nsw/warnings/

For the latest rainfall and weather forecasts see www.bom.gov.au/australia/meteye/

For the latest rainfall and river level information see www.bom.gov.au/nsw/flood

Flood Safety Advice:

This Flood Watch means that people living or working along rivers and streams must monitor the latest weather forecasts and warnings and be ready to move to higher ground should flooding develop.

Flood Warnings will be issued if Minor Flood Level is expected to be exceeded at key sites along the main rivers for which the Bureau of Meteorology provides a flood warning service.

Severe Weather Warnings will be issued or updated if very heavy rain is forecast or observed.

For more information on the Flood Watch Service: http://www.bom.gov.au/water/floods/floodWarningServices.shtml

FloodSafe advice is available at www.ses.nsw.gov.au

For emergency assistance call the SES on telephone number 132 500

For life threatening emergencies, call 000 immediately