Ferocious weather to ease on Wednesday

NSW STORMS BREAKDOWN

DEATHS

Three dead - a woman and two men - from floods in Dungog which washed away four houses. They reportedly died in their residences as water surged through the town.

EMERGENCY

More than 6,000 calls to SES and more than 80 flood rescues.

RAINFALL

The Hunter region has had the heaviest rain, with more than 300mm in 24 hours in Dungog. In the hour to 9.45am on Tuesday the town of Tocal had 112mm.

WIND

Gusts in excess of 130km/h in the Hunter region and around 100-115km/h in Sydney. Winds are sustaining high speeds, causing trees and powerlines to fall.

HUGE SWELLS

A buoy off Sydney recorded a wave that peaked at 11 metres. It knocked out communications.

SCHOOLS

More than 100 public schools in NSW have been closed.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

More than 250 traffic signals are blacked out with the Central Coast, Hunter and Sydney's northern beaches worst affected. Flooding has closed some major roads. Eastern suburbs, Illawarra, Central Coast, Newcastle and South Coast train lines affected. Numerous bus delays across Sydney. Ferries not operating.

FORECAST

The flooding rain and cyclonic winds should begin to ease at dawn on Wednesday.

Large swells and rains expected into Thursday, at least in the southern half of the NSW coast.

PARKS

Trees have come down in national parks, with Lane Cove, Ku-ring-gai Chase, Sydney Harbour and Berowra Valley closed to the public. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service is urging people to consider delaying trips.