Fire and Rescue NSW says two people are missing in floodwaters in Stroud, a small town about 80 kilometres north of Newcastle.
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An additional four people were rescued from the roof the local football club, firefighters say.
The State Emergency Service flood and swiftwater rescue crew is on its way to Stroud to join firefighters in the search for the missing pair.
Meanwhile, wild weather has caused power blackouts in Newcastle as trees brought down power lines, wind lifted roofs and heavy rain flooded streets on Monday.
Emergency services were kept busy with call outs to attend damage from the wind and rain. Incidents included a large tree falling on two houses in Walsh Street, Mayfield East, and reports of a person being trapped in flood water in Wine Country Drive Branxton.
A family had to be evacuated from their Windale home and a pregnant woman was trapped in her car as wild weather lashed the region.
Roofs came off properties in Merewether and Hunter Street West.
Power was cut to about 1300 homes in Dudley and Charlestown, and 600 homes in Shoal Bay, Ausgrid reported at 10.30pm.
Police closed Scenic Drive, Merewether at about 10pm when power lines came down across the bottom end of the road. The lines were arcing. Power lines were also reported down in Floraville Road, Floraville at 10.30pm and Kahibah Road Whitebridge at 10pm.
The State Emergency Service were also called to two flood rescues in Windale about 5pm, including the pregnant woman who had become trapped in her car in rising water. The woman had managed to get to safety before SES crews arrived.
The Windale family was evacuated from their home after it began to flood.
The gale-force winds and heavy rain that battered the Hunter on Monday are expected to hang around for at least a few more days, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
The bureau warned a developing low off the NSW coast on Monday morning was producing strong south-easterly winds that were set to hit worst along the coast in Lake Macquarie, Newcastle and Port Stephens.
That low is likely to deepen and move further up the coast from the Hunter on Tuesday before slowly abating on Wednesday, the bureau said.
Damaging winds as strong as 65km/h were detected at Nobbys beach overnight on Sunday, while Williamtown recorded 70km/h gusts.
The winds were particularly destructive on the Central Coast, where Norah Head recorded a gust of 70km/h and a large tree was brought down on top of a moving car at East Gosford.
Two people were lucky to escape serious injury after the tree slammed on top of their roof and windscreen about 12.15pm.
Fire and Rescue NSW crews arrived on scene a short time later and were able to quickly remove the occupants from the vehicle.
Wallsend was the wettest suburb in the Hunter, with 100mm of rain recorded between midday and 9pm on Monday.
Heavy rain drenched Lake Macquarie later on Monday, with flash flooding occurring at Gateshead, Windale and Warners Bay.
A Roads and Maritime Services spokesman said the Pacific Highway at Gateshead and Hillsborough Road at Warners Bay were closed about 6pm after a quick deluge.
The State Emergency Service had received 71 calls for assistance by 7pm, including 51 in Lake Macquarie. The lakeside suburb and Newcastle were the hardest hit by rainfall, with residents requiring assistance for roof damage, leaky roofs and the threat of flooding.
Large and powerful surf conditions made for hazardous rock fishing, swimming and surfing along the coastline.
The forecast for Tuesday is a top of 17 degrees and a good chance of heavy rain and thunderstorms, according to the Bureau. Wind gusts are expected to reach 75km/h in the Hunter during the middle of the day.
Conditions should improve in time for Anzac Day, with a mostly sunny day forecast and only a slight chance of rain. The temperature is predicted to reach 22 degrees.
"The low is likely to deepen and move towards the Hunter or southern mid-north Coast during Tuesday, with gale-force winds continuing and seas rising further," the Bureau's warning said.
Heavy rain, dangerous surf and damaging winds of about 60km/hr with gusts up to 100km/hr are forecast.
Surf Life Saving NSW has also issued a dangerous surf warning from the Illawarra through to the mid-north coast from Monday to Wednesday, with swells expected to hit five metres on Tuesday or Wednesday.
NSW Life Saving operations manager Adam Weir said rock platforms were among areas that would be particularly risky this week.
The warning follows a rock fisherman rescued off Budgewoi receiving commendation for wearing a life jacket.
"We strongly encourage everyone undertaking any coastal activity to check the latest forecasts, and take some simple precautions before heading out," Mr Weir said.
The Bureau has also warned farmers that lambs face a high risk in the cold, wet conditions ahead.
Showers are expected to continue in the Hunter until Wednesday.
For emergency help in floods and storms, ring your local SES Unit on 132 500