Police are reiterating pleas for drivers to avoid flooded NSW roads after the body of a man was found in his submerged car in the state’s central west. 

The death of the 46-year-old comes as much of NSW braces for further inundation, with more than 100 flood warnings in place.

The man was last seen at Essington, south of Bathurst, around 11am on Sunday, with a search launched when he failed to return home on Monday.

About 10.30am on Tuesday a police helicopter crew found his car fully submerged in Campbells River at Charlton and State Emergency Service crews recovered the vehicle with his body inside.

“Motorists are reminded not to drive into any roadways covered by water due to the dangers of becoming trapped – if it’s flooded, forget it,” police said in a statement on Tuesday.

Parts of already sodden NSW are predicted to cop as much as another 65mm of rain by week’s end.

The Bureau of Meteorology says a trough approaching from the west is expected to bring thunderstorms to the central and southern inland on Thursday and Friday as it crosses the state. 

Senior forecaster Jonathan How said from late Thursday into Friday, heavy rain would push into Victoria’s northeast and across the western slopes of NSW.

This may cause renewed flooding along rivers in parts of the central west and southwest from Friday, many of which are already full due to heavy rain in recent months.

“But thankfully for those flood-affected communities including Bathurst, Gundagai and Forbes … the heaviest rain will be further south,” Mr How told ABC TV on Wednesday.

“But of course, we are expecting to see some local creek and river rises.”

SES volunteers have responded to more than 1000 calls for help since Friday evening.

Emergency Services Minister Steph Cooke said concern for remote communities was high as the “widespread” weather system hit the state.

“The SES is concerned about many of our rural, regional and remote communities … in Nyngan, Warren, Wee Waa, Gunnedah, Moree, Bathurst and Forbes,” Ms Cooke said

But she said emergency personnel were now better prepared than before the previous floods, in March.

She noted 1300 extra volunteers had been added to the emergency service and call-taking capacity had been beefed up.

A three-tier simple warning system for residents has also been put in place and up to 14 night-time helicopters for the state are on stand-by.

Numerous rivers are at major flood levels, particularly in the north and west of the state.

Last month was the fifth highest rainfall on record for Australia as a whole and above average for most of the country, according to the BoM.