Heavy rain is heading down the Hunter Valley towards Newcastle, the Bureau of Meteorology radar showed on Tuesday afternoon.
Just before 3pm, the BoM issued a severe thunderstorm warning with damaging winds and large hailstones predicted for the Hunter, Mid North Coast, North West Slopes and Plains, Snowy Mountains and parts of South Coast, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands, Central West Slopes and Plains, South West Slopes, Riverina, Upper Western, Australian Capital Territory and Northern Tablelands Forecast Districts.
The rain was coming towards Newcastle and Lake Macquarie from the northwest, with wind gusts of 39km/h, and looks likely to reach the coast after 3pm on Tuesday.
The State Emergency Service told the Newcastle Herald personnel were preparing for possible damaging winds predicted for Tuesday afternoon.
It comes after a thunderstorm brought torrential rain to parts of Newcastle and Lake Macquarie on Monday afternoon, causing flash-flooding at the busy intersection of King and Steel streets in Newcastle West.
The SES said it received only seven minor call-outs on Monday afternoon and evening following the storm.
But Fire and Rescue NSW crews responded to storm damage at Coles Waratah, lightning strikes at Adamstown and Edgeworth and a small electrical fire at Mayfield.
