Flood Risk in Forbes River, NSW: 2026 Assessment

Forbes River, New South Wales· UNKNOWN
Forbes River is prone to flooding due to its proximity to waterways and low-lying areas. Climate change is expected to increase rainfall intensity, leading to more frequent and severe flood events.Updated 10 May 2026

Flood Risk Score

8.5/10

Forbes River is prone to flooding due to its proximity to waterways and low-lying areas. Climate change is expected to increase rainfall intensity, leading to more frequent and severe flood events.

Key Facts

Flood Risk
Forbes River is prone to flooding due to its proximity to waterways and low-lying areas. Climate change is expected to increase rainfall intensity, leading to more frequent and severe flood events.
Trend
increasing
Suburb
Forbes River, NSW
Overall Risk
High
Postcode
2446
Region
Coastal NSW
Median property value
$925,000
Dominant hazard
extreme heat (5/10)
Highest high-risk exposure
20.5% of land (bushfire)

Flood Risk Analysis

Forbes River, located in New South Wales, has a notable flood risk profile based on available data including proximity to waterways, elevation, and historical flood events. The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) maintains river height and flood warning data for catchments across New South Wales.

The Hastings River frequently floods, impacting low-lying areas of Forbes River.

Forbes River is prone to flooding due to its proximity to waterways and low-lying areas. Climate change is expected to increase rainfall intensity, leading to more frequent and severe flood events.

For a comprehensive property-specific flood assessment including address-level elevation data, flood overlay mapping, and insurance cost estimates, use the ClimateNest full analysis tool. General suburb data cannot replace a site-specific evaluation.

Forbes River sits within ClimateNest's suburb-level hazard model for flood risk. 7.6% of the suburb's land area is mapped in high-risk flood zones and 87.2% in moderate-risk zones, based on the national hazard overlay. Exposure at this scale varies street by street, which is why an address-level check matters before you buy or insure a specific property in Forbes River.

On ClimateNest's 0–10 suburb hazard index, Forbes River scores 4 for flood risk — a moderate exposure relative to the Australian suburb range. For comparison, properties in Forbes River can still sit well above or below this suburb average depending on elevation, distance to waterways or vegetation, and local drainage.

Forbes River located in Coastal NSW (postcode 2446), is a New South Wales suburb tracked by ClimateNest. The suburb's median property value is $925,000, and understanding climate exposure is becoming a standard part of due diligence for buyers, lenders and insurers pricing property in Forbes River.

Across the six hazard axes ClimateNest models, the dominant climate risk in Forbes River is extreme heat (score 5/10), with moderate exposure. Insurance signals for the suburb point to premiums rising moderately (+30% by 2030). These suburb-level signals help prioritise which properties need the closest look — the actual risk of any single home can only be confirmed with an address-level report.

Whether you are buying, selling or renovating in Forbes River, extreme heat is the hazard to weigh first. Local council planning controls, state hazard mapping and lender climate policies each reference this kind of suburb-level signal, and property decisions in Forbes River are increasingly made with an address-level climate report in hand.

Local Hazard Evidence

Nearest WaterwayHastings River
Elevation Range50-100m
Flood Zone ClassificationLikely

Historical Events

2020
Moderate

Heavy rainfall caused flooding in the Hastings River, impacting low-lying areas of Forbes River.

2013
Moderate

Major flooding occurred in the Hastings River, impacting Forbes River and surrounding areas.

Adaptation & Mitigation Actions

Improve Flood Defenses

Immediate

Invest in infrastructure to reduce the risk of flooding, such as levees, drainage improvements, and flood-proofing of buildings.

Est. cost: High

Reduce Bushfire Risk

Immediate

Implement bushfire mitigation measures, such as hazard reduction burns, clearing vegetation around homes, and improving building standards.

Est. cost: Medium

Prepare for Heatwaves

Near-term

Develop a heatwave plan and implement measures to protect vulnerable populations, such as providing cooling centers and educating the public about heat safety.

Est. cost: Low

Strengthen Community Resilience

Long-term

Promote community awareness of climate risks and encourage residents to take steps to prepare for extreme weather events.

Est. cost: Low

Council & Emergency Services

Port Macquarie-Hastings Council
Emergency Services

Data last updated: 10 May 2026

Explore Forbes River Risk Reports

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Forbes River at risk of flooding?

Based on available data, Forbes River has a notable flood risk profile. Flood risk varies by address — check your specific property for precise flood zone mapping and elevation data with ClimateNest.

What flood insurance costs can I expect in Forbes River?

Insurance costs for flood cover in Forbes River depend on the property's flood zone classification, elevation, and proximity to waterways. ClimateNest provides address-level insurance cost estimates based on your property's specific hazard exposure.

Does flood risk affect property values in Forbes River?

Yes, flood risk can affect property values in Forbes River. Properties in mapped flood zones may experience lower buyer demand, reduced valuations, and higher insurance costs. Lenders increasingly assess flood exposure as part of mortgage risk evaluation.

How does elevation affect flood risk in Forbes River?

Elevation is a critical factor in flood risk. Properties at higher elevations within Forbes River typically have lower flood exposure than those near waterways or in low-lying areas. Address-level elevation data combined with BOM flood mapping provides the most accurate picture.

What are the main climate risks in Forbes River?

ClimateNest's suburb model rates Forbes River's dominant climate risk as extreme heat at 5/10 on a 0–10 index, followed by damaging wind (5/10) and severe storm (5/10). These are suburb-level averages — an address-level report is needed to confirm the risk of a specific property in Forbes River.

What share of Forbes River is exposed to high bushfire risk?

ClimateNest's hazard overlay maps 20.5% of Forbes River in high-risk zones for bushfire, with a further 66.2% in moderate-risk zones. Suburb-level exposure is not uniform — individual properties can differ from these averages, so an address-level check is recommended.

Is Forbes River Safe from Climate Risk?

Enter your address below for an instant climate risk assessment for Forbes River, New South Wales, covering flood, bushfire, sea level rise and more.

Free instant previewCSIRO-powered data

What A$69 could save you from

$7.2B
2022 insured disaster losses*
$300B+
climate risk to property by 2050*
30-120%
insurance premium increases in high-risk areas*

*Industry sources: ICA, APRA, RBA

Full report from A$69 · Australian addresses only · 8 hazard scores · Insurance trajectory · 2030 & 2050 projections