Dozens of regional schools close after heavy rain, evacuation orders

A severe weather warning is in place on May 20 for heavy rainfall and damaging winds from the Central Coast to Nambucca Heads. It extends west to some mountainous areas near Scone.

Widespread heavy rainfall has led to major flooding in parts of the Mid North Coast and Hunter region, in particular the Paterson, Gloucester and Wiliams Rivers.

Catchments also likely to be affected include Orara River, Bellinger and Kalang Rivers, Nambucca River, Macleay River, Hastings River, Camden Haven River, Manning Rivers, Wallis Lake, Karuah River, Goulburn and Upper Hunter Rivers, Wollombi Brook and Lower Hunter River, Newcastle Area and Lake Macquarie.

There are now 62 NSW public schools and four independent schools closed across the state.

These schools are:

As rainfall escalated overnight emergency warnings were issued asking people to evacuate in Dungog, parts of Paterson, Gloucester Holiday Park, parts of Bulahdelah and Ferndale Caravan Park on Chichester Dam.

In Taree, about 160mm of rainfall was recorded in just 6 hours overnight, causing significant sudden-onset flash flooding.

An emergency warning was issued but has since been downgraded.

More than 4000 people are without power in the Mid North Coast region, with a further 400 in Newcastle. Essential Energy and Ausgrid are working to restore the connections.

NSW SES received more than 1,405 calls for assistance in the 24 hours to 5am May 20.

There were 22 flood rescues overnight, all of them in the Hunter and Mid North Coast regions.

The severe weather is expected to linger along the coast for several days, with widespread 24-hour rainfall totals of up to 130mm possible in some areas.

Isolated falls of up to 180mm in 24-hours are forecast and could cause significant flash flooding.

Senior BoM meteorologist Sarah Scully told ACM, the publisher of this masthead, there would be "prolonged moderate rainfall with isolated areas of heavy rainfall".

Hourly totals of between 60 and 100mm are likely, Ms Scully said.

Over the next 24 hours, these areas could experience 90mm to 200mm in rainfall.

More than 300mm of rainfall could occur on May 21 for the Hunter and parts of the Mid North Coast, she said.

While the daily rainfalls in some parts were not necessarily "concerning", having that much rain three or four days in a row, could lead to road closures and property damage.

Damaging wind gusts of around 90 km/h are expected over the coastal areas of the Hunter and Mid North Coast in the next 24 hours as well.

"Warnings are likely to be issued with reports across flood watches broadly issued," she said.

BoM hasn't ruled out some rivers experiencing major flooding.

with Australian Associated Press