BY ISABEL EVERET
Hunter motorists are being urged to take care on the roads with a severe weather warning in place for the Hunter.
A trough of low pressure off the coast is bringing heavy rain and vigorous southeasterly winds, which may lead to flash flooding in the morning.
Williamtown recorded 48.4 millimeters of rain in just one hour to 8 am on Monday morning, and a massive 129 millimeters over the past 24 hours.
Damaging winds averaging 60 to 70 km/h with peak gusts in excess of 90 km/h are possible on the coastal fringe.
The heavy rain and damaging winds are expected to ease during the afternoon, locations which may be affected include, Newcastle, Gosford and Maitland.
Medowie Rd between Nelson Bay & Richardson Roads is currently closed due to flooding.
Meanwhile, the SES has issued a livestock and Equipment Warning for the Hunter River downstream of Aberdeen.
Due to heavy rain falling across the Upper Hunter Catchment above Aberdeen over the last
three days, there have been rises in the Pages & Dartbrook River Systems.
River flow is expected to cause rises 2.0 metres above normal flows at Muswellbrook late
Monday evening, increased flows may occur at Denman early Tuesday morning.
For emergency help in floods and storms, call the NSW State Emergency Service on 132 500, in life threatening situations call triple zero (000) immediately/
