10 photos from the Illawarra's big wet

Clean-up: Gerringong home owner John Sultana sweeps mud of his house, watched on by daughter Hannah and friend Rob Collyer. Picture: Sylvia Liber

Over the weekend, the State Emergency Service, police and ambulance paramedics were kept busy with multiple reports of flooding across the Illawarra, especially in the region's southern suburbs.

Waiting: John Neville and Linda Sattleker of Jamberoo watch as the water gets closer and closer to their property. Picture: Sylvia Liber

SES media officer Dave Rankine said since 7pm on Friday, the Kiama unit responded to 67 jobs, while Wollongong responded to 95.

He said dozens of Gerringong residents were counted in the flood assistance, due to "blocked up drains" sending water through people's homes in a number of streets.

Sad: Gerringong couple Hazel and Bernie Gardiner console each other during a break from dealing with the water that rushed into their home on Saturday. Picture: Sylvia Liber

He said attention was turned to Nowra on Monday, with the Bureau of Meteorology predicting the Shoalhaven River to hit its biggest peak in 29 years.

But conditions did tend to ease on South Coast as the day wore on - and the high tide approached.

By mid-afternoon the Shoalhaven River at Nowra was falling with moderate flooding; at Terara it was steady with moderate flooding; and the Sussex Rd Boat Ramp was steady with minor flooding

Wet: Shoppers at Warrawong Plaza had to deal with wet feet after the underground car park flooded on Saturday. Picture: Adam McLean

Wind gusts up to 90km/h also were predicted for the Illawarra on Sunday night.

"Thunderstorms embedded in the rain or any development of a small scale low within the trough may exacerbate the rain rate leading to flash flooding," the bureau warning stated.

"The rain should ease around late on Sunday night as the trough starts to move northwards late on Sunday or early Monday."

Driving: Beatson and Beach streets in Wollongong, not far from the CBD, were underwater. Picture:Adam McLean

Happily that turned out to be the case.

Damaging surf conditions with waves bigger than five metres in the surf zone was expected to cause significant beach erosion along the Illawarra and South Coast.

Messy: Gerringong residents Peter and Dianne Moxey had family come to the rescue and help with the clean-up. Picture: Sylvia Liber

"Beach conditions in these areas could be dangerous and people should stay well away from the surf and surf exposed areas," the bureau warned.

"Surf conditions should ease in the south later Monday, and hazardous surf conditions should persist along the northern coast Tuesday."

Closed: The heavy rains saw roads across the region closed off due to flooding - including Springhill Road at Cringila. Picture: Adam McLean

It was pretty much the same scenario further north of Wollongong - just a few hours later.

Wind gusts of more than 80 kilometres per hour have lashed the Hunter on Monday, keeping State Emergency Service crews on their toes throughout the region.