Homes have been washed away and three people have died in the small town of Dungog, near Newcastle in the NSW storms.
Flash floods in the area are thought to have claimed the lives of three elderly people, reports the Dungog Chronicle as the town has felt the pressure of 300mm of rain in the last 24 hours.
On Tuesday afternoon the Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe weather warning with predictions of destructive winds, heavy rain and damaging surf for the Metropolitan, Hunter and Illawarra districts.
“Certainly we hope by sunrise tomorrow morning that we’ll see an easing trend as this low is forecast to move a bit further off the coast,” Sean Carsons, a senior meteorologist at the BOM told the SMH. He added: “But it will be a gradual easing; it won’t be a short, sharp clearing trend.”
Earlier on Tuesday NSW Premier, Mike Baird, called the storm a “once in a decade” weather event.
Mr Baird also urged commuters to get home safely, and before dark, as the weather is expected to deteriorate this later evening.
Mr. Baird also told the media in a press conference that by about midday there had already been over 4,500 phone calls for help in relation to the dangerous weather.
Fire & Rescue crews have responded to over 1000 jobs sparked by the storms hitting the state since yesterday afternoon, reports Nine News.
As winds in the state are averaging at approximately 100 kilometres per hour, the storms have been labelled a “once in a decade” event by NSW Emergency Services Minister, David Elliott.
Mr Baird also announced a number of schools have been closed due to the weather.
If you or your family are in need of help during the storms contact the SES on 132 500. Due to the amount of calls they are receiving, calls should only be made if a road is blocked, there is an injury, or if there is damage to a house or car.
Stay safe, NSW.
