UPDATED 4.15pm: While the rains is easing, the winds persist and a severe weather warning is still current for the Illawarra. 

NSW SES say they have 325 volunteers at work in the field dealing with uprooted trees and fallen branches and leaking roofs. 

 Earlier: THE Bureau of Meteorology reissued its severe weather warning for today as roads around the region continue to experience flooding and school events are cancelled.

Roads and Maritime Services have reminded skippers and owners of small craft should be on high alert and check the conditions before considering crossing a coastal bar or heading offshore.

Strong winds can also cause dangerous conditions for vessels on moorings which have been poorly maintained.

Skippers are advised to:

• Check the official weather forecast before and during boating

• Ensure the boat and its equipment is suitable for the conditions

• Log on/off with a Marine Rescue NSW marine radio base for every trip offshore

• Wear a lifejacket.

2pm:  Illawarra South Coast region reports more than 150 calls for assistance.

The  South Coast Primary Athletics set down for Tuesday, August 19 at Beaton Park has been postponed.

The new date for the South Coast carnival will now be Tuesday,  August 26 (in place of the selection trials).

The selection trials will be moved to either Monday, September 1 or Tuesday, September 2 (to be confirmed) 

Kiama Public School has also postponed its stage 1 Garden  Fete - planned for Tuesday. It will be rescheduled.

The Bureau of Meteorology is expecting wet weather for the next 24 hours. 

 12.25pm: Kiama Council advises Swamp Road, Jamberoo is closed to traffic until further notice due to flooding.

The BOM advises the whole system is expected to start moving away from the coast Tuesday morning.

Winds are generating dangerous surf conditions in the South, Illawarra, Sydney Metropolitan and Hunter coasts.

Damaging winds around 65 km/h with peak gusts of 90 km/h are forecast .

Rainfall in the  24 hours rainfall from 9am Sunday: 197mm recorded in Porters Creek (inland from Ulladulla), 170mm in Mongarlowe (in South Coast near Braidwood).

24 Hours highest wind gusts: 120 km/h Wattamolla (Royal National Park), 94 km/h Molineaux Point and 91 km/h in Kiama.

11.30am: There is flooding on the Illawarra Highway. Closed in both directions 

The SES has listed the following  roads to watch

* Princes Highway: Heavily affected during heavy rainfall and can result in the complete or partial closure of many traffic lanes in both Northern and Southern directions;

* Station Road: Between Princes Highway and Black Street can be affected by the flooding from Horsley Creek;

*Illawarra Highway: Between Croome Lane and Taylor Street can be affected by flooding by the Macquarie Rivulet and has a history of being closed for a number of days during intense rain periods; 

*Tongarra Road: Between Croome Road and Stapleton Avenue can be affected by flooding from Frazers Creek and also flooding from the Macquarie Rivulet;

*Calderwood Road: Known to be affected by flooding the Macquarie Rivulet; and

*Industrial Road: Known to be affected during heavy rainfall.

*Other locations, including the suburbs of Albion Park Rail, Shellharbour Centre and Warilla, are known hotspots for being heavily affected and flooded during intense rain periods and should be avoided if possible.

9.30am: Kiama has emerged relatively unscathed so far from the wet and windy weather, but Shellharbour hasn't been so lucky and more bad weather is expected throughout the day.

SES crews in the Shellharbour area are still fielding calls from assistance following the strong winds and heavy rain that have battered the region. 

Crews from across Shellharbour have responded to calls ranging from leaking roofs to flood rescues. 

"We've got about 20 calls so far, most of them have been for leaking roofs and water coming into houses and garages and they're still coming in a steady stream," SES Illawarra South Coast incident controller Ashley Sullivan said. 

"The Shellharbour SES Unit was called to a flood rescue at Albion Park yesterday and we saw some significant flooding on Macquarie Pass as well.

"It's definitely a good time to remind people to not drive through flood water, even if you think you can make it through, just don't even think about it."

While crews in the Shellharbour area were kept busy, Kiama emerged relatively unscathed with only the Kiama SES Unit only having three outstanding jobs at around 9am this morning. 

The low number of calls were despite a peak gust of 91km/hr being reported off Kiama at 2.30am.

"Given the ferocity of the weather it's been quite surprising that we haven't had more call outs," Kiama SES deputy controller John Wall said. 

"The jobs we have had have been leaking roofs and we had a tree down at Jamberoo that council looked after and another tree down in Gerringong that took out some powerlines."

Mr Wall said people should still take care, especially around the ocean with heavy surf pounding the coastline. 

"We've got about 20 calls so far, most of them have been for leaking roofs and water coming into houses and garages and they're still coming in a steady stream," SES Illawarra South Coast incident controller Ashley Sullivan said. 

"The Shellharbour SES Unit was called to a flood rescue at Albion Park yesterday and we saw some significant flooding on Macquarie Pass as well.

"It's definitely a good time to remind people to not drive through flood water, even if you think you can make it through, just don't even think about it."

The wet and windy conditions are expected to continue throughout the day with the Bureau of Meteorology issuing a a severe weather warning for the Illawarra. 

Damaging winds around 65 km/h with peak gusts of 100 km/h are forecast for parts of the Illawarra and South Coast forecast districts.

Dangerous surf with significant wave heights 4 to 5 metres expected as well as thunderstorms and heavy rain. 

Call 132 500 to request assistance from the SES and visit https://www.livetraffic.com/desktop.html for the latest road closures.

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