Australia Weather News

Heavy rain continues to cause widespread flooding across parts of the New South Wales Hunter Valley and Mid North Coast, which has led to numerous evacuations and rescues.

The heaviest rain in the 24 hours to 9am was at Taree, where 277 millimetres fell.

Other areas to receive heavy falls included Port Macquarie Airport (235mm), Careys Peak in the Barrington Tops (260mm) and Wauchope (197mm).

SES state operations Chief Superintendent Dallas Byrnes said more than 2,000 calls for help had been made in the past 24 hours, including 1,400 incidents that sparked emergency responses.

He said 22 of those were flood rescues, another two of which were recorded in the early hours of this morning.

"The majority have been from people who have been in the wrong place and the flooding has taken them by surprise," Chief Superintendent Byrnes said.

"We are seeing lots of local creeks rise quickly and we have seen intermittent closures of the M1 due to flash flooding.

"If you come across a flooded roadway, find an alternative route.

"You are putting yourselves and your loved ones in danger and the responding agencies that might have to come and help."

Overnight evacuations

Dozens of residents across parts of the New South Wales Hunter region were forced out of their homes overnight after evacuation orders were issued due to fears of major flooding.

The State Emergency Service (SES) issued an emergency warning for residents in some streets in the communities of Dungog and Paterson, urging them to evacuate by 11:30pm.

SES crews and police doorknocked the area and told residents they could get trapped if they did not leave.

Several residents of the Ferndale caravan park, near Barrington Tops, were also told to leave immediately.

SES Assistant Commissioner Colin Malone said authorities preferred not to evacuate people at night but decided it was the safest option.

"The rivers responded far quicker than what was forecast to happen … and we reached the triggers and that made it necessary for us to provide that evacuation advice through the evening," he said.

"Definitely not ideal, but we like to get that done as soon as we reach the triggers."

Major flood warnings

Major flood warnings are in place for the Paterson, Williams, Manning, Gloucester, Upper Hunter, Goulburn and Lower Hunter rivers and Wollumbi Brook.

Major flooding is possible at Gloucester, Taree, Gostwyck, Dungog and Mill Dams from this morning, and at Taree and Wingham later today.

There are five emergency warnings in place, including four to evacuate for parts of Buladelah, Patterson, Dungog, Gloucester.

An order to seek shelter is in place for Taree.

Fourteen additional watch and act warnings are also in place.

SES Deputy Commander Sonya Oyston said more warnings would be issued today.

"We know that floods move fast," she said.

"Residents in high-risk areas should stay across the latest warnings and take action early."

Big swell, erosion fears

The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting 24-hour rain totals of 90-130mm across the affected areas and isolated totals of up to 180-230mm.

Residents of the Mid North Coast were told by the SES late yesterday to "stay indoors" as the weather system began to have an impact.

The region was hit by severe flooding in 2021, and Wauchope SES Deputy Unit Commander Amanda Romans-Ekendal said many long-term locals feared a repeat.

"A lot of the members of our community have communicated their concern about the weather sitting over us, but our job here is just to reassure and make everything safe and that's what we're trying to do," she said.

Deputy Commander Romans-Ekendal said many locals had learned from 2021 to prepare early.

"A lot of people headed here before the start of the rain to get sandbags early and be as prepared as possible," she said.

The SES has warned of hazardous surf with waves of up to five metres expected, which brings the threat of erosion.

"Coastal erosion can happen rapidly, causing damage to properties and infrastructure," Deputy Commander Oyston said.

"Please stay well clear of exposed beaches."

Essential Energy operation manager Rob Ridley told ABC Newcastle there were about 6,000 customers without power at one stage this morning, but power had been restored to about half of those by 9am.

"So the impacted areas of Dungog and Gloucester, they are limited at the moment, but we are doing our best … to investigate what we can and assess where we can restore supply," he said.

"Currently there are parts of the network that aren't accessible due to water, but we do have all our available staff – where it's safe – out investigating."

Mr Ridley said it was difficult to estimate when power would be restored to the remaining customers.