South Australia's latest River Murray forecast shows the peak is likely to reach Renmark later than previously predicted, with the community already experiencing daily flows not seen since 1975.
When the peak arrives around December 14, the flows are likely to be between 170 and 180 gigalitres a day, with a lower probability of 220 gigalitres a day.
A second peak is expected between Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.
Premier Peter Malinauskas said despite the delay in the forecast peak, river levels are already high.
On Wednesday morning 150 gigalitres passed the South Australian border, the highest volume since 1975.
"It does give us a bit more time, which is not a bad thing, having said that, the pace of our rollout is maintained," he said.
"It is important that people along the river acknowledge the fact that while the peak might be further away that we will see an increasing volume of water lead up towards that peak.
"The amount of water that is now crossing the border today is the highest it has been since 1975."
Emergency Services Minister Joe Szakacs said almost 400,000 sandbags have already been handed out to the community.
He said the government has procured up to 2 million sandbags in total, with supplies arriving in Adelaide on a daily basis.
"All the advice that I have received is that the community have been outstanding," he said.
Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said emergency services had already visited 675 premises, although more than 400 of those were unoccupied at the time.
Of the premises visited, Commissioner Stevens said 42 families had indicated they needed emergency accommodation and 277 families have said they intend to stay at their properties as waters rise.
He said 114 families had already made plans to move from their homes.
A call centre has also been established to contact residents via telephone.
Commissioner Stevens said more than 3,500 homes would need to be visited, up from the 1,000 initially estimated.
"The task is bigger than anticipated, but we are also confident that we will be able to get through those premises and make contact with those individuals who may need assistance," he said.
Debris seen floating down the river
Apricot grower Peter Conrick urged people travelling in boats along the river to look out for debris.
The farmer from Murbko told ABC Radio Adelaide he had seen some odd sights in the past few days.
"I was out checking a pump for a friend out on the dinghy the other day and saw quite a few things you don't normally see floating down the river," he said.
"There was a couple of fridges, a lounge chair, some fence posts and wooden timber.
"Then the most interesting one was we saw a gas bottle floating. I said to my grandson to pull that out and he said 'I can't pull it up' and then he pulled a bit harder and up came the barbecue still hanging off it."
"That's all through the rising flood waters and people not preparing their properties correctly for flood inundation."
Mr Conrick said anyone going out on the water needed to be extra vigilant over coming months.
"The big worry is probably the logs that are floating down because they are probably 99 per cent submerged and even some of them could be just right under the surface and you'd have no idea until you hit it."
While Mr Conrick's home and farm are safe from floodwaters, he said the irrigation pump that waters his crops was near the river.
Looming power outages are also a risk to his crops.
"It's part of living on the river, you'll see floods come and go, some higher than others, the big ones are certainly always going to do some damage of some sort — no matter how well you prepare, somebody is going to get hurt," he said.
