Stroud cut off by storms

Residents in Stroud are preparing for more severe storms after the town was cut off by flooding during the worst weather to hit NSW in a decade.

The town's showgrounds - where four people were earlier rescued from a roof top - are under water, Central Hotel manager Ang Taylor told AAP.

"Water has spread across the road and throughout the showgrounds ... they've been ruined," she said.

While the small town has had no rain for the past six hours, locals have been piling into the Central Hotel on Cowper St as they prepare for more heavy downfalls.

Ms Taylor said State Emergency Service personnel were expected to help prepare for the rain's return.

"I haven't seen them but the SES will be doing sandbags," she said.

"We were cut off."

Three people have died in Dungog after storm waters surged through the town while 47 people have been rescued from flood waters across NSW.

The storm is expected to pick up in intensity before midnight.