Weather warnings issued for parts of NSW as flash floods hit coastal areas
The New South Wales State Emergency Service (SES) is urging communities across the Hunter and Mid North Coast to be wary of flash flooding as heavy rainfall lashes the coast.
The SES said falls of up to 100 millimetres were recorded between 10pm and 3am and the Bureau of Meteorology has forecast more widespread falls over the next 24 hours.
SES Assistant Commissioner Sean Kearns said catchments were already saturated and creeks and rivers were swelling rapidly.
In the 24 hours to 5am the SES responded to almost 350 incidents, including eight flood rescues.
More than 160 of those calls for help came from the NSW Northern Zone, where seven flood rescues were conducted after vehicles were driven into floodwater.
"One of those drivers was conveyed to hospital with hypothermia like symptoms," Assistant Commissioner Kearns said.
SES Mid North Coast Zone Deputy Commander Tony Day said the assets available to emergency responders included a Taree-based helicopter unit.
"[Aerial crews] will be able to drop flood rescue-qualified people down into circumstances where we need that rapid deployment," he said.
The helicopters will be located at Cessnock, Dungog, Taree and Maitland.
"There are limitations to those aviation assets — sometimes due to weather conditions or night time they can't fly," Deputy Commander Day said.
"That's why we back it up with ground crews in high-risk locations."
Multiple sandbagging stations have been set up across the region, including at Raymond Terrace and Rutherford.
Assistant Commissioner Kearns said wind gusts of 70-80 kilometres per hour were likely along the coast on Monday and Tuesday, along with hazardous surf conditions and five-metre waves from Sydney to Port Macquarie.
"Coastal erosion is a risk, particularly for Central Coast properties already impacted by significant coastal erosion earlier this year," he said.
"This includes at Wamberal Beach and The Entrance North."
Minor to moderate flooding is likely in the Bellinger, Kalang, Nambucca, Hastings, Manning, Gloucester, Goulburn, Paterson, Williams and Hunter rivers, as well as in the Wollombi Brook, and flood watch alerts have been issued.
The Macleay, Camden Haven and Myall rivers are expected to reach minor flood levels.
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