New England and North West motorists headed south along the New England Highway were turned away at the Hunter Expressway near Branxton  at Wine Country Drive because of flash flooding.  

As of 1.30pm the Hunter Express had reopened.

Live Traffic NSW is also reporting traffic lights are blacked out in Cessnock.

It comes as NSW police have confirmed two men and a woman have died in Dungog this morning as floodwaters swept through the town.

According to the BOM, upwards of 200mm of rain has fallen in parts of the Hunter in less than 24 hours.

SOURCE: The Dungog Chronicle

NOON: Raging flash floods have claimed the lives of three elderly people and four houses have washed away in Dungog.

Two men and one woman were trapped in their residences as flood water surged through the town in the early hours of Tuesday. Emergency services could not save them.

After raining heavily all night, the heavens truly opened about 4.30am and the deluge has barely stopped.

There is no power, no mobile service and a number of roads and bridges have been washed away in the Dungog district.

It is understood the SES also rescued a couple in their 70s as they dangled from their gutters. A younger couple also was rescued from their house roof.

Stroud too, like all parts of the lower Hunter, has felt the full force of the appalling weather. It is believed showground campers were caught by flood water. One person is believed to be missing.

Senior Constable Dave Hanna, who was on his way to Stroud to lend assistance, turned back when matters escalated in Dungog. However, conditions changed so dramatically so quickly, he was forced to park his car on the outskirts of town and walk 2km along the train tracks.