The search for a woman swept away in floodwaters in New South Wales has been suspended overnight.
The woman, 26, was in a Mini Countryman which became stuck in floodwater near Cessnock, in the Hunter Valley about 7.50pm on Saturday.
The driver, a 27-year-old woman, was rescued without injuries but the 26-year-old was dragged away by the current.
Authorities immediately launched a multi-agency search including police, the Rural Fire Service and Volunteer Rescue Association rescuers which continued on Sunday.
The search was disbanded for the night about 4.30pm today due to poor weather conditions and visibility issues.
The multi-agency search will resume about 8am tomorrow, on Old North Road, Rothbury.
Members of the public in flood-affected areas have also been warned avoid dangers such as damaged powerlines and floodwaters on roads.
The State Emergency Service (SES) has directed residents in Gunnedah, central NSW, to evacuate due to hazardous flooding.
A multi-agency search for a 26-year-old woman has been suspended for a second night in the Hunter Valley (above, vehicles parked beside floodwaters in the region)
The woman went missing on Saturday evening when the Mini Countryman she was in became stuck in floodwaters (pictured, an SES worker beside floodwaters)
Those on Bloomfield Street and Conadilly Street are affected.
Authorities are warning there has been major flooding in the Peel and Namoi Rivers at Tamworth, Manilla & Gunnedah.
Moderate flooding is expected at the Paterson & Williams Rivers near Gostwyck Bridge, Dungog and Mill Dam Falls.
Minor flooding has been forecast for Myall, Severn, Manning, Gloucester, Macleay, Nepean & Gwydir.
Also on Sunday, SES crews responded managed to save a 40-year-old man who was stuck in a tree due to floodwater in the Hunter Valley.
The man was swept out of the tree but rescuers followed him in the water and managed to pull him to shore, and he was taken to hospital.
Both sides of the nation were facing wild weather, with high winds and storms expected in Western Australia and soggy conditions and flooding continuing for northern NSW.
Tens of thousands of households in the eastern state spent a night without power as heavy rain, floods and unprecedented snow wreaked havoc.
The SES has responded to more than 1455 call-outs related to rain, thunderstorms and snow
The SES has responded to more than 1455 call-outs related to rain, thunderstorms and snow.
Residents in some parts of Taree on the mid north coast have been asked to evacuate due to flooding, while warnings are in place for the Peel and Namoi Rivers at Tamworth, Manilla and Gunnedah.
Armidale and Guyra in New England had unprecedented snowfall and SES crews responded to more than 100 trapped cars.
A new low-pressure system is expected to push up the NSW coast on Sunday, but conditions are likely to ease by afternoon, the Bureau of Meteorology said.
Elsewhere, the bureau has issued a severe weather warning as a cold front moves through WA on Sunday, with damaging winds expected across the state’s southwest, affecting Perth, Albany, Bunbury, Margaret River and the goldfields.
‘Most of these damaging wind gusts will be driven by showers and thunderstorms,’ meteorologist Miriam Bradbury said.
Authorities warn surfers, fishers, swimmers and boating enthusiasts to stay clear of the coast amid dangerous swells.
People have been urged to stay at least eight metres away from fallen power lines, power poles and damaged electricity equipment.
A new low-pressure system is expected to push up the NSW coast on Sunday, but conditions are likely to ease by afternoon, the Bureau of Meteorology said
Lightning temporarily forced the Wallabies and British and Irish Lions to seek cover during Saturday night’s clash in Sydney, before the Australians managed to avoid a series whitewash.
Much of the match was played in torrential rain, while lightning early in the second half forced a rare 38-minute stoppage as several hundred fans were forced to evacuate the stadium to take shelter.
