THE level of the Murray River at Mildura is expected to creep back towards a true flood peak in the middle of next week, after an unexpected upstream levee breach delayed its arrival.
A drop in the river this week was small but noticeable to flood watchers who continue to flock to the Mildura riverfront to see the Murray in full flight, as the receding flow left lines of leaf litter and other debris a few centimetres above the waterline.
Apparent signs that the peak had arrived and passed, however, were expected to be short lived.
Described by some as a "dent" in the flood, this week's drop has been attributed to the breach of a levee upstream near Euston last weekend. That diverted large amounts of water into Lake Caringay.
Mildura Incident Controller Alistair Drayton said at the time that the redirected flows would fill the lake, which has an estimated capacity of 100 gigalitres, and briefly reduce Murray levels downstream.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, the river at Euston is now likely to peak around 10.16 metres (52 metres Australian Height Datum) over this weekend.
The river there may remain around this level through to mid December, with moderate flooding, the bureau says.
It says the Murray at Mildura may remain around 38.15 metres AHD until this weekend, but then possibly rise to reach 38.3 metres AHD around Wednesday.
The Mildura river level would then be likely to remain around this level until late December, with moderate flooding.
Downstream at Wentworth, however, the bureau is expecting major flooding, as the Murray reaches about 34 metres AHD, most likely on Saturday.
The Darling is also flooding at the New South Wales town's river junction location and the bureau says the Murray's level may remain above the major flood mark of 33.88 metres AHD through to late December.
Official measurements on Thursday had the Murray at Mildura weir at 38.1 metres AHD and rising. Downstream of the weir, it was 38.09 AHD and steady and, at Lock 10 (Wentworth) it was at 33.93 metres AHD and steady.