The Cessnock, Maitland and Dungog local government areas have been declared natural disaster zones following this weekend's floods.

More than 100 schools around NSW - including some in the Lower Hunter - will be closed on Monday due to localised flooding.

Local schools that will be closed include Congewai Public School, Dungog Public School, Hinton Public School, Laguna Public School, Millers Forest Public School and Mount Kanwary Public School.

Meanwhile, Hunter Valley Zoo at Nulkaba was closed this weekend after Lomas Lane was flooded, but at this stage St Philip's Christian College will be operational on Monday.

Heavy rain is set to continue on Monday and Tuesday, with at least 30mm predicted each day.

The latest flood bulletin from the NSW State Emergency Service says major flooding may occur at Wollombi Brook at Bulga overnight Sunday. River levels are currently peaking with minor flooding at Wollombi Brook at Wollombi.

Minor flooding is continuing along the Hunter River at Maitland and Raymond Terrace, and river levels have peaked in the lower Hunter River.

Minor flooding is continuing along the Paterson and Williams Rivers, with renewed river rises occurring. Minor peaks are expected on Sunday night.

Further rainfall is expected over the remainder of Sunday and early next week, which may cause further river rises throughout the Hunter Valley.

READ MORE: How the second day of the NSW floods 2021 unfolded in pictures and video

Several more local roads have been closed today as heavy rain continues to descend on the Lower Hunter.

These include:

ROAD CLOSURES:

WATER OVER ROAD:

Please continue to drive with caution on all local roads, and do not enter or drive through floodwaters for any reason.

BRIDGE CLOSURES:

The State Emergency Service reports minor flooding along the Wollombi Brook at Bulga and Wollombi. Moderate flooding is possible at Wollombi on Sunday morning and at Bulga on Sunday afternoon.

Minor flooding is occurring along the Hunter River at Maitland and Raymond Terrace.

Further rainfall is expected over the remainder of Sunday and early next week, which may cause further river rises throughout the Hunter Valley.

Minor flooding is continuing along the Paterson and Williams Rivers, with renewed river rises occurring. These renewed rises may lead to moderate flooding from Sunday afternoon.

Further rainfall may occur during Sunday and into Monday, and this may cause further river level rises.

We can confirm that Cessnock Road at Testers Hollow is now closed due to water over the road.

Works are underway at the site to build a new two-lane road (which can be seen at the far left of this image), after the road flooded four times between 2007 and 2016.

A major flood warning is in place for the Williams and Paterson rivers, with moderate flooding possible at Wollombi Brook, and minor flooding possible in the lower Hunter River.

Elsewhere in NSW, incredible video footage has emerged of a house being swept down the Manning River near Taree.

PHOTOS: How the NSW floods unfolded

Moderate flooding is possible at Wollombi and Bulga on Saturday and minor flooding possible at Maitland and Raymond Terrace overnight Saturday and into Sunday.

Black Creek on Old North Road, Rothbury has reached a record-high six metres, and is cut off on either side of Sweetwater Road, with many properties isolated and accommodation providers having to turn guests away.

According to Millfield Rural Fire Brigade, Congewai Road is closed and the brigade is patrolling the area to watch out for rising water from creeks and rivers.

Other road closures in the Cessnock area includes Richmond Vale Road; James Lane, Sawyers Gully; and Lovedale Road (at the overpass).

Meanwhile, water is reportedly over the road at Testers Hollow, where work is underway to construct a new flood-proof road.

More closures have been announced in the Maitland LGA, including Allandale Road, Allandale; Maitland Vale Road (near the RFS at Rosebrook); Dickenson Road, Melville and Melville Ford Bridge.

Dungog is bracing itself, with moderate to major flooding occurring along the Paterson and Williams rivers. Stay up-to-date with coverage at the Dungog Chronicle website.

More rain is expected in the Lower Hunter overnight, with heavy showers forecast in the early hours of the morning.

Remember - if it's flooded, forget it.

Here's the latest update on the Wollombi and Lower Hunter situation from NSW SES Incident Controller, Chief Superintendent Steve Patterson:

Heavy rainfall across parts of the Hunter River catchment early Saturday morning has caused river rises in upstream tributaries.

As a result minor flooding is expected along the Wollombi Saturday. Further rises to the moderate flood level are possible.

Wollombi Brook: Moderate flooding possible along the Wollombi Brook. The Wollombi Brook at Wollombi is expected to exceed the minor flood level (6.70 m) around 3pm Saturday. Further rises possible. The Wollombi Brook at Bulga is expected to exceed the minor flood level (3m) around 5pm Saturday. The river level may exceed the moderate flood level (3.7m) around 1am Sunday. Further rises possible.

Broke: (Broke Bridge Gauge) Bridge Deck level. Village itself does not flood.

Bulga: (Bulga Bridge Gauge) no information.

Wollombi: (Wollombi Brook Gauge) flooding of all low-lying road crossing from Bulga to Wollombi and surrounding areas. Low properties on Paynes Crossing Road, Wollombi may experience some inundation.

Maitland: (Belmore Bridge). Melville Ford Bridge at Aberglasslyn is closed. Stanhope Road is cut at Kilfoyles Bridge between Luskintyre Road and Lambs Valley Road. Alternate route via Branxton and Stanhope. Windermere Road at Windermere is cut just past Windermere House.

Raymond Terrace: Backwater flooding in southern Raymond Terrace begins, flood water breaks out of the Hunter River near the boat ramp at Glenelg Street Raymond Terrace. Localised flooding of low-lying areas around Hunter Street, Swan Street and Glenelg Street.

People in areas likely to be impacted by flooding in low-lying areas of Wollombi Brook area should prepare for potential isolation and possible evacuation.

People in areas likely to be impacted by flooding should consider:

This will be our last update for the evening. We wish all of our readers a safe weekend.

The NSW State Emergency Service is urging communities to stay alert amidst heavy rain that is hitting the state's Mid North Coast on Friday afternoon, as it could lead to significant flash flooding for communities.

The Bureau of Meteorology has advised 'life-threatening' heavy rain is expected to continue to hit communities along the Mid North Coast and Hunter regions over the next six hours, and shift to the Metro Sydney and even the Illawarra tonight or early Saturday morning.

Minister for Police and Emergency Services, David Elliott, is advising people to heed the warnings and prepare for volatile conditions.

"Our NSW SES volunteers are gearing up for a busy weekend, so before you consider doing something stupid, which puts you at risk, remember that our emergency services personnel are putting their lives at risk to keep you safe," Mr Elliott said.

"My plea to the community is that if you come across floodwater while driving, never drive, walk, or ride through it - if the road is flooded, forget it."

Commissioner Carlene York appealed to members of the community to heed the warnings of NSW SES and be ready for flash flooding.

"We are calling on all communities from the Mid North Coast right down to the Illawarra, to be vigilant and monitor weather conditions closely," Commissioner York said.

"Flash flooding is a huge concern. The real danger is that it can't be predicted and will happen extremely quickly.

"Knowing how flooding can affect your local area, your street, your property or even your business will go a long way to keeping you and your family safe.

"Unfortunately, 41 people have needed to be rescued from floodwater since Thursday.

"It does not matter how experienced a driver you think you are, or how big your car is, do attempt to drive across it - if an area is flooded, you need to avoid it altogether."

READ MORE: Williams River floods at Dungog as waters continue to rise

Commissioner York added that for areas where heavy rain is yet to hit, communities are urged to prepare as best they can to mitigate any potential damage to their homes.

"Just as our volunteers are prepared, we need our communities to be prepared as well," she said.

"We're asking people to do simple things, like moving your car away from trees and powerlines, and undercover where possible, and clearing your gutters and downpipes of any blockages.

"Also, if you know your property is prone to flooding, ask your local NSW SES unit for sandbags.

"If you need emergency assistance during a storm or flood, please call us on 132 500, but if the situation is life-threatening, call Triple Zero (000)."

This just in from Wollombi Valley Fire and Flood on Facebook:

"Heavy rain has been forecast for our valley and already some roads and private bridges are already starting to be impacted by rising water. We understand that water is COMPLETELY across the road at Blaxlands Arm. Please remember to not drive through flood waters. Please note, the term "Wollombi Brook" refers to the river in our little valley and all the way up to where it joins the Hunter River north of Bulga. It is important to look at the information provided regarding flood warnings as they may be for the Wollombi Brook but not in our valley."

Meanwhile, several roads and bridges in the Dungog Shire, with a list being updated on the council's Facebook page.

And at Maitland, the Street Eats event planned for this Sunday at Walka Water Works has been postponed due to the weather.

Were you heading to Bimbadgen to see Ben Folds tomorrow? The show has been postponed due to the hazardous weather. Read more here.

At Old North Road, Rothbury, the causeway over Black Creek has flooded once again, and residents are reporting flash flooding on "many sections" of the road.

The State Emergency Service has advised minor flooding is expected along the Williams River at Dungog today. Read more here.

Meanwhile, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has urged people to reconsider their travel plans and stay home this weekend after the State Emergency Service had received "literally hundreds of callouts" across the state overnight.

Old North Road, Rothbury and Richmond Vale Road, Richmond Vale are closed due to flooding.

Lovedale Road, Lovedale is also flooded at the railway overpass.

At Maitland, Melville Ford Bridge is closed due to flooding.

In the Dungog shire, Fosterton Bridge at Fosterton Road is closed due to flood water.

Remember - if it's flooded, forget it.

Stay tuned to your local council's website for information about road closures.

Cessnock

Maitland

Dungog

READ MORE: Buses replace trains on the Hunter line

READ MORE: Roads washed away but worst may be yet to come

A severe weather warning has been issued for the Hunter region - including Cessnock, Maitland and Dungog - on Friday.

The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting heavy rainfall, leading to flash flooding, in parts of the exposed Hunter coastline as a coastal trough continues to intensify.

Intense rainfall which may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding may develop in areas of the Mid North Coast and northern Hunter districts as continued rainfall impacts the region.

Roads are likely to be cut off by water, and there will be an increased risk of landslips over this period.

Damaging winds, averaging 60 to 70 km/h with peak gusts in excess of 90 km/h are likely to develop today along the coastal fringe as the low develops in the Mid North Coast, with the area of impact moving south by the evening.

A flood watch has been issued for the Mid North Coast, Hunter and parts of Sydney, including the Orara, Coffs Coast, Bellinger, Kalang, Nambucca, Hastings, Camden Haven, Manning, Gloucester, Wallis Lake, Myall River, Karuah, Paterson, Williams, Wollombi Brook, Lower Hunter, Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Central Coast catchments.

READ MORE: Roads closed in the Bay as rain pours down on Port Stephens

Zone Commander for the NSW SES, Chief Superintendent Stephen Patterson said the impact of the forecast flood levels could include isolation of some communities along the affected river systems.

"We are urging people to be safe over the next couple of days, have flood plans in place and be ready act on them immediately and prepare for the imminent flood waters by having adequate stocks of food and water tonight in preparation for potential isolation," Chief Supt Patterson said.

"These Flood Watches mean people living or working along rivers and streams must monitor the latest weather forecasts and warnings and be ready to move to higher ground should flooding develop."

The State Emergency Service advises that people should:

The next Severe Weather Warning will be issued by 11am Friday.