Weather warnings remain in place for much of the NSW coastline after strong winds and large hailstones lashed large parts of the state yesterday afternoon.
A man had to be rescued from heavy swells after falling overboard from a boat at Narooma yesterday and the State Emergency Service (SES) received more than 110 calls for help overnight.
Movements out of the Port of Newcastle are restricted and widespread strong marine wind warnings are current along the coast.
Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Helen Reid said there had been strong wind gusts of between 80 and 90 kilometres per hour, as well as rainfall totals of up to 80 millimetres.
"We're looking at having another slightly stormy and wet day today," she said.
"The wet area we're watching is once again the Hunter, the Mid North Coast and part of the Northern Tablelands.
"But we do still have a broad area through the north east and even as far south as the Illawarra, where we might pick up some thunderstorm action."
The conditions have prompted the Port of Newcastle to restrict the movement of vessels.
"Often due to weather events, large swell or wind, the harbour master will inspect the entrance," Port of Newcastle senior manager of corporate affairs Lucas Coleman said.
"If he or she deems that the entrance is not safe for vessel movements, they're temporarily paused until those weather conditions improve.
"This does happen several times a year and we often monitor conditions as does the harbour master."
In the Hunter, residents shared images of huge hail on social media.
Man overboard rescued from heavy swells
Meantime, in the state's south at Narooma, a man in his 50s fell overboard from a tour boat at around 11am on Wednesday.
Eyewitness Graham Martin said he saw the man fall from the back of the boat as it was attempting to cross the bar.
"Someone was trying to reach him from the boat but they just couldn't get to him," he said.
"The waves were just crashing over him so he had no hope of swimming out of there."
Mr Martin said after a second boat failed to save the man, a bodyboarder paddled out to rescue the man before both were pulled on to nearby rocks by four to five other men.
Authorities said he was in the water for about 20 minutes before being rescued.
He was assisted by Surf Life Saving and Marine Rescue and Eden Water Police and taken to hospital.
Warning to residents
The NSW SES said there were calls for help overnight from up and down the coast about flash flooding, damaged roofs and fallen trees, with the worst-affected area being Campbelltown in Sydney's south
Residents in storm-affected areas are advised to remain cautious on the roads today due to wet conditions and fallen trees.
"The roads are quite slippery," Northern NSW SES public information officer Scott McLennan said.
"We've already had requests for assistance when it comes to road crash rescues, so we're just asking everyone to take your time today."
He said the worst-affected areas in northern NSW were Tabulam, Drake and Urbenville.
"That's primarily because the wind and the rain in those particular areas knocked over trees," he said.
"We've had rainfalls … fairly wide and varied."
