NSW storms to dampen Christmas Eve

Heavy rain and flash flooding could put a dampener on Christmas Eve, with a severe thunderstorm warning issued for much of NSW and the ACT.

The Bureau of Meteorology says storms could produce flooding and damaging winds in towns such as Armidale, Orange, Canberra, Goulburn, Tamworth, Moree and Dubbo for several hours on Saturday night.

Almost 50mm of rain fell within half an hour near Braidwood in the Southern Tablelands on Saturday afternoon, while a thunderstorm produced 85mm at nearby Mongarlowe.

The State Emergency Service is urging people not to drive, ride or walk through flooding and to stay indoors away from windows.

The warning is relevant to people in the Hunter, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands, North West Slopes and Plains, South West Slopes, Snowy Mountains, Australian Capital Territory, Northern Tablelands and parts of the Mid North Coast, Metropolitan, Illawarra and Central West Slopes and Plains Forecast Districts.

The warning has been cancelled for the South Coast district.