BY ISABEL EVERETT
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather warning for the Hunter, with damaging winds, heavy rainfall and abnormally high tides, and damaging surf expected on Monday.
The BOM is forecasting up to 50 millimeters of rain to fall throughout the region today, with the SES predicting between 150 and 200 millimeters could fall in parts of the Hunter Valley.
There is still a major flood warning in place for the Wollombi Brook at Bulga, with minor flooding at Wollombi and along the Hunter River at Maitland.
The Golden Highway remains closed between Range Road and the New England Highway, as does Main Road between Avery Lane and Russell Street, between Cliftleigh and Gillieston Heights.
There are a number of roads closed throughout Port Stephens and Lake Macquarie.
Singleton Council has implemented their Local Emergency Management Procedure.
Council crews have been working
around the clock to respond to incidents, including land slips on Carrowbrook Road, water over roads,
and two vehicles lost in causeways.
Crews are today double checking road closures as well as inspecting critical assets such as bridges and causeways for damage. Staff are providing twice daily briefs and will prioritise road defects on major roads.
Fort Scratchley will remain closed until Saturday, with the tunnels currently under water and the grounds waterlogged.
The Newcastle Airport runway has been closed due to flooding, with the closure remaining in place until midday on Wednesday.
Trains will remain suspended today between the Newcastle interchange, and Fassifern, Maitland, Dungog and Scone.
A number of Hunter region schools are closed today due to flooding.
These are:
Booral Public School
Bulahdelah Central School
Dungog Public School
Hinton Public School
Laguna Public School
Millers Forest Public School
St Joseph’s Primary School, Bulahdelah
St Joseph’s Primary School, Gloucester
