LATEST STORM UPDATE
Sadly three people, two men and a woman have died in flood water at Dungog.
A severe weather warning remains inplace across the Hunter and Central Coast for the next several hours.
Around 100,000 houses and businesses remain without power.
Repairs may take more than 24 hours in some areas.
Many regional Hunter and Central Coast Roads are closed due to flooding, downed trees and power-lines. Emergency services strongly advise drivers not to drive through water. There are numerous local road closures around the Cessnock, Maitland, Central Coast and Port Stephens areas.
The Pacific Highway north of Raymond Terrace and the Bucketts Way turnoff are closed.Many traffic lights are also blacked out.
There are significant bus and train service delays and cancellations with transport NSW advising passengers to delay journeys where possible.
The Hunter line between Hamilton and Scone is closed and there are limited services on the Central Coast line to Sydney.
SES crews are contending with hundreds of fallen trees and damaged houses. 20 extra SES teams are coming in to the Central Coast and the Hunter from the West of the State.
The University of Newcastle has closed all Newcastle and Central Coast campuses.Hunter TAFE will be closed tomorrow
Many local government and non government schools will also be closed with parents advised to check with their children’s schools or consider alternative arrangements.
Is it possible to get an aerial shot of Wollombi Valley please?