NSW:Winds, hail, floods expected across NSW

AAP General News (Australia)
12-11-2011
NSW:Winds, hail, floods expected across NSW

SYDNEY, Dec 11 AAP - Strong winds are expected to hit most of the NSW coast as the
weather bureau warns residents across the state to prepare for more large hailstones and
flash flooding.

Gusts of 55km/h are expected on Monday from Grafton in the state's north to Eden near
the Victorian border, with sea swells of up to three metres forecast.

A Bureau of Meteorology thunderstorm warning remained in place on Sunday night for
the state's Northern Rivers, Snowy Mountains, North Coast, Hunter and Riverina regions,
along with the ACT.

"A regional warning for severe thunderstorms with large hailstones, very heavy rainfall
and flash flooding covering the ACT and a large part of NSW is still in effect," it said
in a update shortly before 8pm (AEDT).

The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) has so far responded to 27 calls as storms swept
across the state on Sunday afternoon.

"Most of those were leaky roofs, a couple of trees and branches falling, but mostly
minor damage," SES spokesman Phil Campbell told AAP.

Up to 100mm of rain has been forecast to hit Sydney and the Hunter region on Monday
and this could cause some local flash flooding, Mr Campbell said.

In the ACT, the SES has received 45 calls for help after storms caused minor flooding
and downed trees in Woden Valley and Weston Creek, in Canberra's south, on Sunday afternoon.

AAP saj/tab

KEYWORD: STORM NSW UPDATE

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