The Bureau of Meteorology recorded 104mm at Maitland Airport and 101mm at Maitland (Belmore Bridge) from 9am to 4pm.

Weatherzone recorded 64.6mm from 9am to 5pm at Tocal, 54.8mm at Cessnock Airport and 114.2mm at Maitland Airport.

Wine Country Drive between Tuckers Lane and McDonalds Road was closed in both directions from about 4pm.

Emergency services are attending and motorists are advised to avoid the area.

The Golden Highway at New England Highway near Whittingham is closed in both directions.

Westbound motorists should use the New England Highway to Singleton, eastbound motorists should Putty Road, John Street, and Campbell Street to join the New England Hightway at Singleton.

The outgoing lane of Wollombi Road's intersection with the New England Highway in Rutherford is closed due to water over the road.

There were also concerns that the intersection on Young Street and New England Highway, Rutherford may close.

A number of roads have been closed by flooding across Maitland including sections of the New England Highway and Shipley Drive in Rutherford and Allandale Road at Allandale, as falls between 40 and 100mm of rain continue on Sunday.

Weatherzone reported that there had been 97.8mm of rain from 9am to 3pm at Maitland Airport, in the same period there was 42mm at Tocal and 41.4mm at Cessnock Airport.

The heavy rain has forced localised flooding in Maitland, Hexham and Tomago.

The outgoing lane of Wollombi Road's intersection with the New England Highway in Rutherford is closed due to water over the road.

There were also concerns that the intersection on Young Street and New England Highway, Rutherford may close.

In Maitland there are also warnings that Morpeth Road at Raworth (near Linuwel School) and MacFarlanes Road, Morpeth, may soon close due to water over the road.

Shipley Drive is closed between the roundabout and Harvey Norman due to water over the road. Motorists are advised other exit points are available.

Heavy rain in low-lying areas at Tomago and Hexham also forced road closures on Sunday afternoon as the SES reminds people they should never drive through floodwaters.

Tomago Road, near the intersection of the Pacific Highway, was closed in both directions about 1.30pm on Sunday afternoon, while one southbound lane of the highway at Hexham was also shut.

People are advised to call the SES on 132 500 for emergency help in floods and storms. In life threatening situations call triple zero (000) immediately.

For the latest details on your travel routes and possible flooding visit livetraffic.com

THE Hunter is on high alert for flash flooding on Sunday as the region is lashed with heavy rain as an east coast low that swamped Sydney heads north.

And those looking to get away for the school holidays have been urged to cancel travel plans and stay inside.

"We are now facing dangers on multiple fronts; flash flooding, riverine flooding and coastal erosion," Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke said during a press conference on Sunday morning.

"So If you live anywhere between Newcastle and Batemans Bay please don't be caught unaware by the current weather situation.

"This is a life-threatening emergency situation. If you know your local community is prone to flooding then please be prepared to evacuate and at short notice. And to all communities between Newcastle and Batemans Bay I am respectfully asking that you reconsider your travel plans at this time. Please stay home if you can."

The SES had responded to 1400 requests for assistance across the state in the last 24 hours, Ms Cooke said, and conducted 29 flood rescues.

The Bureau of Meteorology said Sunday morning that heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding was forecast for the Hunter and Central Coast.

The BOM warned six-hourly rainfall totals between 70 to 120 mm were possible and damaging winds average 65km/h were likely along the coast.

"Heavy rainfall will further contribute to flooding already being experienced, and increases the potential for landslides," the BOM's warning said. "The damaging winds may lead to debris on roads and provides the risk for trees toppling in softer soils."

There is also a severe weather warning for damaging surf in the Hunter and Central Coast.

The wild weather has prompted Transport for NSW to urge people to take extra care on the roads during the winter school holidays.

And the government has also announced a special permit for flood-affected beekeepers to be allowed to move honeybees and hives despite the Varroa incursion.

Meanwhile, residents in Sydney's southwest are under evacuation orders as NSW's southern and central coast areas continue to battle relentless driving rain.

Flood warnings were issued for areas south and west of Sydney while residents and businesses in low-lying parts of suburbs including Camden, Wallacia, Liverpool, Georges Hall, Chipping Norton, Lansvale and Moorebank were told to get out before they got cut off by rising waters.

By Sunday morning, there was major flooding at Menangle in Macarthur, southwest of Sydney, with river levels exceeding those seen in March this year.

Riverine flooding was expected along the Hawkesbury and Colo Rivers from Sunday, with major flooding at North Richmond possible from the afternoon.

Authorities are confident they are ready to help NSW residents caught out by the wild weather, and avoid a repeat of their heavily criticised flood response earlier this year.

Defence force helicopters and troops remain on standby, while emergency services personnel are working around the clock.

The weather-front battering the state's east coast is forecast to get worse before it gets better, with wild winds, rough seas and heavy rain expected to last until Monday.

With three flood rescues carried out on Friday and Saturday, people were urged to avoid non-essential trips as the deluge put a dampener on the opening weekend of the NSW school holidays.

Flooding is also possible for the Hunter, Central Coast, the Greater Sydney region and the South Coast, with flood watches in place for catchments between Newcastle and Batemans Bay, including Sydney and the Illawarra.

Areas at risk include Newcastle, the Central Coast, Lake Macquarie, and the Upper Coxs, Colo, Macdonald, Woronora, Patterson, Williams and Lower Hunter rivers.

A severe weather warning for damaging winds and heavy rainfall was in place on Sunday for Sydney's metropolitan areas, the Illawarra, and parts of the Hunter, Ce ntral Tablelands, and Southern Tablelands forecast di stricts.

The Upper and Lower Nepean and Hawkesbury rivers are also causing concern as already-soaked catchments come in for another lengthy drenching.

IN THE NEWS: