Schools and roads closed as Sydney, Mid-North Coast and Hunter regions smashed by wet weather and flash flooding

Sky News AU

19-05-2025

At least a dozen schools and a litany of roads have been closed across eastern New South Wales as flash flooding wreaked havoc following an onslaught of rain.
Heavy rain overnight caused localised flooding, especially in parts of the Hunter and Mid North Coast, with 100 millimetres hitting the region between Newcastle to Kempsey between 10pm and 3am.
A number of towns have recorded falls in excess of 100mm in the past 24 hours, with more than 30 preliminary 'Advice' flood warnings sent out to areas along the east coast of the state.
A watch and act warning urging residents to "prepare to isolate" has been issued along Dora Creek, north of the Central Coast, as it has been predicted to flood.
Newcastle, Port Macquarie, Taree, Wingham, Nelson Bay, Dungog and Yarrowitch have been listed by the Bureau of Meteorology as areas where locals need to keep an eye on due to a severe weather warning for heavy rainfall and damaging winds.
"Strong southeasterly winds averaging 50 to 70 km/h, with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS of around 90 km/h are expected over the coastal areas of the Hunter and Mid North Coast, during today and into tomorrow," the BOM said.
More than a dozen schools are non-operational due to the weather.
These include Dungog High School, Dungog Public School, Kirkton Public School in Lower Belford, Iona Public School in Woodville, Glen William Public School, Elands Public School, Martins Creek Public School, Mount Pleasant Public School, Narara Valley High School, Vacy Public School, Wingham Brush Public School, Wingham High School, and Wingham Public School.
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School in Dungog and St Nicholas Early Child Care Centre have also been shut.
A plethora of road hazards and closures have been listed on the Live Traffic NSW website, while local social media pages have also kept residents up to date with any advice or information about how to keep safe in their respective areas during the ongoing weather event.
East Seaham Rd in East Seaham and the Newline Rd turnoff up until Raymond Terrace have been covered in water. Motorists are advised to avoid the area.
Roads have been affected by flooding in several areas including Muswellbrook, McCullys Gap, Hebden, Mitchells Flat, Luskintyre, Medowie, Seaham, Gillieston Heights, Reedy Creek, Glendon Brook, Louth Park, East and South Maitland.
The bridge in Rothbury has been closed at Old North Road just past Wine Country Drive.
Roads closed in both directions include Allandale Road between Allandale Road and Hunter Expressway in Allandale, Gregory Road between Robert Road and Station Lane in Lochinvar, Winders Lane at Old North Road in Farley, Brush Farm Road between Morpeth Road and Pitnacree Road in Raworth, and Old Maitland Rd at Pacific Highway, Hexham.
In Sydney, most roads remain unaffected with the exception of The Esplanade in Narrabeen, while further west one of three southbound lanes is closed on Ryde Road near Minnamurra Avenue in Gordon.