BY IAN CROUCH
The State Emergency Service says the Hunter is expecting more heavy rain and strong winds today (Monday 4 July 2022) as the East Coast Low off our coast continues to impact the region.
A Severe Weather Warning is out for Heavy Rainfall, and Hazardous Surf.
Moderate Flooding is possible for the Wollombi Brook at Bulga tonight while minor flooding is possible later this morning at the Belmore Bridge in Maitland and the Paterson River at Gostwick.
The SES has received 155 calls for help in the Northern Region overnight, with many of those in the Hunter, while volunteers performed 3 flood rescues at Allandale and Greta yesterday afternoon where people became trapped in their vehicles.
The Weather Bureau says Maitland Airport has recorded the most rainfall since 9 yesterday morning with 160 millimetres, and wind gusts reached 83 km/h at Nobbys just after midnight.
Several homes lost power around Newcastle and Lake Macquarie as the strong winds took hold, but Ausgrid says power has now been restored, however several areas on the Central Coast are still off the grid.
David Webber from the SES says they're bracing for more severe weather in the Hunter later today.
"That low system is predicted to move north-west into the Hunter area later this afternoon.There will still be impacts at the tail end of that with wind and rainfall as well. so, heavy rainfall, flash flooding, reverine impacts within that, and storm-related tasks with that wind as well," he said.
Buses are replacing trains between the Newcastle Interchange and Scone and Dungog in both directions due to flooding on the tracks at Sandgate.
The Golden Highway at Whittingham is closed at the New England Highway, and Wine Country Drive is closed between Tuckers Lane and McDonalds Road.
Beaches are also no-go areas, with wave heights expected in excess of 5 metres.
