Evacuation warnings issued as floods cover eastern New South Wales

Thirty homes have been evacuated at the NSW Hunter Region town of Raymond Terrace, as flood levels rise. Residents say water came in quickly.

Heavy rainfall is continuing to wreak havoc across eastern NSW as evacuation warnings are issued for Dungog, Wallsend and Bulga. Severe weather warnings are in pace for parts of Hunter and mid north coast as heavy rain continues.

Raymond Terrace locals across six streets were told get out with many moved through the waters in dinghies while 4WD proved the only vehicles capable of conquering swollen river waters.

GALLERY: Flooding across eastern NSW

An evacuation centre was set up at a nearby senior citizens' hall but many locals opted to stay with relatives.

In Dungog, 50km to the north, more homes were evacuated as the Williams River rose toward an 8-metre peak.

Low-level flooding continued throughout the day in parts of Sydney.

Executive Director Service Delivery Jamie Vernon said NSW Ambulance is on alert in the Newcastle Hunter region and the Dungog, Stroud and Gloucester areas where flooding is causing street closures.

Two Special Operations Team paramedics are on standby at Raymond Terrace.

Maitland observed its wettest January day on record yesterday, with 165mm in the 24 hours to 9am today.

Yesterday also marked the highest January rainfall in Nobbys, in the Newcastle region, since records began 150 years ago. Rainfall measured 201mm in 24 hours, and 280mmm in 48hrs to 9am today.

Up to 130mm of rainfall was recorded in a 24-hour period at Bulga, near NSW's Hunter region, resulting in major flood warnings for Wollombi Brook, with the State Emergency Service responding to more than 870 call-outs since the deluge hit on Monday.

If Sydney stays below 20.4 degrees today it will be coldest two day spell in January in 23 years

Residents in the NSW town of Dungog were evacuated overnight with a major flood warning in place for rising waters in the area, with the Williams River peaking at 8.05m in the early hours of the morning.

Rainfall has eased, but the BOM predicts more rain is expected across NSW in coming days.

Residents of Bulahdelah and Maitland remain on alert.

On top of the very heavy rainfall (100-200mm) for the Mid North Coast and Hunter expected today, damaging winds averaging 60-65km/h are also expected with gusts of about 90km/h possible along the coastal fringe.

On Tuesday, the SES called for reinforcements and firefighters joined the effort to reach those affected by the weather in the city and on the mid-north coast.

Firefighters pulled motorists and residents from rising waters on Tuesday night, while authorities plead with the public to avoid driving across flooded roads.

NSW Police fined a man on the far south coast after he attempted to drive across a flooded bridge on Monday.

The 45-year-old became trapped at Murrah and was issued a $425 fine and an infringement notice for negligent driving.

The number of flood rescues has climbed to 11 across NSW, including the rescue of a heavily pregnant woman in the state's south.

A Westpac Life Saver Helicopter airlifted the woman, who is due to give birth soon, from an isolated property and took her to Bega Hospital.

Campers have been warned to stay in contact with the SES, who rescued two people from the Violet Hill Campground in Bulahdelah on the mid-north coast.

Another group on the state's south coast remains stranded, but have enough food to last a few days, Westpac Life Saver CEO Stephen Leahy told AAP.

"We attempted to fly up there on several occasions, however the rain and thick cloud prevented us from getting to that site," he said.

The SES has been called to more than 1000 jobs, mostly in the Sydney metro area.

Sydney's northwest has received up to 97mm of rain since 9am on Tuesday, while the northern beaches has also notched about 87mm, according to the BOM.

A retaining wall collapsed onto a footpath at Bronte while most other calls were for minor flooding or storm damage.

There won't be relief any time soon.

BOM meteorologist Dmitriy Danchuk said there was more rain to come, with the heaviest rainfall expected to affect the coast between Taree and Newcastle.

A severe weather warning for heavy rainfall remains in place for the mid-north coast and Hunter region, while a severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for the northern tablelands and north west slopes.

SES ADVICE

• Don't drive, ride or walk through flood water.

• Keep clear of creeks and storm drains.

• If you are trapped by flash flooding, seek refuge in the highest available place and ring 000 if you need rescue.

• For emergency help in floods and storms, ring your local SES Unit on 132 500.