Flash flooding NSW: Severe weather forces schools to shut down across Mid North Coast and Hunter regions

Wild weather has forced more than 30 schools to shut down, leaving thousands of students at home as a week of extreme conditions kicks off.

A relentless stretch of wet weather is set to hammer New South Wales and Queensland in the coming days, with Sydney bracing for a drenching of up to 120mm of rain.

The Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe weather warning of heavy rainfall, life-threatening flooding, damaging winds and dangerous surf conditions covering areas from Coffs Harbour on NSW’s Mid North Coast down to the Central Coast.

Heavy rain and south-easterly winds averaging 50 to 70km/h with damaging gusts of around 90km/h are forecast for the northern Hunter and Mid North Coast regions on Tuesday, the bureau warned.

The NSW Department of Education announced on Monday night that at least 31 public schools in these regions will be non-operational on Tuesday.

Evacuation orders have already been directed to some residents in Bulahdeleh, Paterson, Gloucester, Chinceshter Dam and Dungog as the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) responds to the severe weather event.

Guests staying at the Ferndale Caravan Park in the Barrington Tops area of the Hunter were also told to evacuate immediately.

People living in Taree, Tinonee and Cundletown are being urged to seek shelter immediately due to intense rainfall that could lead to extreme flash flooding.

NSW SES state duty commander Sonya Oyston said some communities in low-lying areas are already experiencing isolations and further warnings would be issued as rivers continue to rise.

“Rivers and creeks are already saturated from recent weather events and are rapidly responding to the renewed rainfall,” Ms Oyston said.

“We know that floods move fast and so should you – residents in the high-risk areas should stay across the latest warnings and take action early.”

Ms Oyston said flash flooding remains a significant risk across the week.

“We’ve already responded to a number of flood rescues in Northern NSW for people driving into floodwaters,” Ms Oyston said.

“While we do have flood rescue teams, aviation assets, and high clearance vehicles prepositioned throughout the regions, we urge the community not to take the risk of driving through floodwaters.

“If you do come across a flooded road, stop, turn around and find an alternative route.”

The gloomy conditions are expected to stretch to south-east Queensland’s coast with rain and hazardous surf conditions forecast.

For assistance in floods and storms, call the NSW SES on 132 500. In a life-threatening emergency, always call Triple Zero (000).

More to come...