UPDATED: City of Newcastle has closed sporting fields around the city ahead of an expected dump of rain.
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The council confirmed the decision on Friday, the same day staff worked to protect Stockton beach from an expected two-metre tide on Sunday.
Barrie Crescent will open to only one-way traffic as the sandbag wall on the beach's north side, near Griffith Street and Stone Street, is reinforced.
Sporting grounds will be reassessed on Monday.
Earlier: LANDHOLDERS have been urged to watch the banks of the Hunter River amid a deepening low pressure system the NSW State Emergency Service warns could bring minor to moderate flooding to parts of the region.
Heavy rain is expected across the northern rivers and NSW mid north coast into the weekend before a likely shift south late on Friday.
The falls coincide with forecasts for high tides from Sunday through to Tuesday, which on Thursday prompted the emergency body to warn of a 75 per cent chance of flooding in areas including Wollombi Brook and the lower Hunter River.
Low-level floods expected in the region are predicted to affect backyards, buildings below floor level, paths and low-lying bridges.
"If this weather system intensifies, flooding could develop in the coastal river valleys from Tweed Heads down to the lower Hunter," the SES said in a statement.
Farmers are urged to monitor rainfall and prepare to shift stock if required. They are also encouraged to move pumps and other equipment away from low-lying areas.
Bureau of Meteorology modelling shows parts of the Hunter may receive up to 100 millimetres by Monday afternoon.
Heavy falls are predicted in Newcastle on both Saturday and Sunday, with deluges expected to deliver between 30mm to 40mm daily until Monday tamping maximum temperatures into the mid-20s.
Showers are similarly predicted for the region's food bowl areas at Scone, Muswellbrook, Singleton and Maitland until Wednesday next week, intensifying over the weekend before dwindling.
The forecast has already prompted Central Coast Council to dump its Love Lanes Festival at Wyong this weekend. A smaller version of the event is slated for March 6.
"Loves Lanes Festival is primarily an outdoor event, with forecasted conditions on Saturday making it unsuitable to move forward with the event," the council said in a statement.
Powerful surf is also predicted to batter the coast on Friday, with conditions expected to be hazardous for swimming and rock fishing.
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Matt Carr
Matt began his Newcastle Herald career as a cadet in 2009. He is a Walkley nominated reporter who has covered councils, police and general news rounds across the Upper Hunter, Port Stephens, Maitland, Lake Macquarie, Cessnock and Newcastle. Now his focus is on digital storytelling and breaking news.
Matt began his Newcastle Herald career as a cadet in 2009. He is a Walkley nominated reporter who has covered councils, police and general news rounds across the Upper Hunter, Port Stephens, Maitland, Lake Macquarie, Cessnock and Newcastle. Now his focus is on digital storytelling and breaking news.
