NSW SES - Cessnock City Unit

22/02/2026

06/02/2026

This is heading our way. Stay safe out there!

⚠️ A Severe Thunderstorm Warning for DAMAGING WINDS, HEAVY RAINFALL and LARGE HAILSTONES has been issued by Bureau of Meteorology.

📍 Locations which may be affected over the next several hours include Illawarra and parts of Hunter, Metropolitan, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands and Central West Slopes and Plains Forecast Districts.

Severe thunderstorms developing over the central ranges and slopes this afternoon. They are no longer occurring in the South West Slopes district and the warning for this district is CANCELLED.

📲Download Hazards Near Me or visit the NSW SES website to stay up to date with warnings and information, especially as the weather moves through and may affect other areas.

We advise people to:
🔸Park your car under secure cover and away from trees, powerlines and drains.
🔸Secure or put away loose items around your house, yard and balcony.
🔸Don't drive, ride or walk through flood water.
🔸Keep clear of creeks and storm drains.
🔸Stay indoors away from windows, and keep children and pets indoors as well.

☎️If you require assistance in floods and storms, call the NSW SES on 132 500. In life threatening situations, call Triple Zero (000).

Issued at 1:30pm on Friday, 6th February 2026.

15/01/2026

For anyone concerned about the forecast rainfall over the next few days, we have sand and sandbags available at our Cessnock HQ, Col Turnbull Parade, Pokolbin. Sandbags and shovels are available in the wheelie bins beside the sandpit.

We will have teams available if the weather comes in, so call 132500 if you need us.

15/01/2026

Holidaymakers camping near rivers and creeks on the NSW Central Coast, Hunter and ranges should prepare for severe weather.⛺

Widespread rainfall and severe thunderstorms are likely to intensify from this afternoon, and continue across into the weekend. Moderate to heavy falls possible. Peak rainfall rates of 40 - 90 mm in six hours and up to 120 mm with impacted thunderstorms.

With many people camping or staying near creeks and rivers at this time of year, the NSW SES is reminding the community not to set up camp near waterways, as water levels can rise quickly.

❗Holidaymakers: Now is the time to decide if you should head home or relocate to higher ground. Strong winds and flash flooding may make travel difficult in the coming days.

📲 Stay across warnings and information by downloading the Hazards Near Me app or visit the NSW SES website.

☎️ If you need assistance, call the NSW SES on 132 500. In life threatening conditions, call Triple Zero (000).

Meryl Swanson MP
Pat Conroy MP
Emma McBride MP
Jenny Aitchison MP
Central Coast Council
Dungog Shire Council
Upper Hunter Shire Council
Maitland City Council
Port Stephens Council
City of Newcastle
Lake Macquarie City Council

31/12/2025

Good morning 2026! Commander Jen here.

It's time for a look back at the year that was for our Cessnock City Unit team. We received 840 calls for assistance from our Cessnock communities over the last 12 months. Compare that with the 313 requests for assistance in 2024 and it's easy to see why 2025 was our busiest year yet. We charged from weather event to weather event throughout the year, barely taking a breath.

To our 40 members who were active in some form throughout the year, thank you for your dedication and commitment. Overall our members have contributed 9,436 volunteer hours throughout 2025, with about 2/3 of these hours being in field and operational teams, responding to requests for assistance.

Training was ongoing during 2025 with 1,146 volunteer hours invested in increasing our Unit capability to make sure we are prepared for whatever weather event comes next. Significant training milestones included the training of 8 new storm ground and storm heights operators, 5 new chainsaw operators, and training for members in our operational and incident management systems. For the first time, Cessnock City Unit has 2 trained remotely piloted aircraft operators, 2 aviation radio operators and a trainee airbase manager.

Our community engagement team were busy in 2025 spreading the messages about knowing your risk and being prepared. A prepared community is better able to respond and recover from significant events. Our efforts in 2026 will focus on continuing to build resilience within our communities.

With such a large volume of calls for assistance in 2025, our small team was assisted throughout the year by other local Hunter and Central Coast SES Units and our emergency services partner agencies. Thanks to all for your support.

2025 was a big year - let's see what 2026 brings. Best wishes to all for a successful and rewarding year ahead.

31/12/2025

🕛Happy New Year to everyone in the Singleton LGA.

💪if you want to look for a new outfit in 2026, ask yourself, do you look good in orange?

31/12/2025

24/12/2025

Wishing all our Cessnock communities a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

It's been a busy year for our team, and while we are looking forward to some down time, we will be available over the holiday period should anyone need us!

Stay safe out there!

10/12/2025

We’re preparing for the impacts of severe thunderstorms across much of NSW from today through to the weekend ⛈️

Severe thunderstorms are possible over the central and northern slopes and ranges as well as the adjacent coast this afternoon and evening.

What are we expecting from these storms?
🔹 Damaging winds exceeding 90km/h
🔹 Large hail exceeding 2cm in diameter
🔹 Localised heavy falls leading to flash flooding.

Showers and thunderstorms are expected to increase across central parts of the coast and northwest on Thursday.

Conditions are expected to ease late Friday, before another bout of thunderstorms for many areas over the weekend, contracting to the North on Monday.

⚠️ There's a risk of fallen trees and excess runoff, particularly after bushfires in the Northern region, so we are urging people to monitor conditions, be alert and stay away from overhanging branches.

📲 Download Hazards Near Me or visit the NSW SES website to stay up to date with warnings and information, especially as the weather moves through and may affect other areas.

🛑 If you come across a flooded road, turn around and find a safer route.

Ensure you and your home are ready:
🔸 Move your car under cover or away from trees and powerlines
🔸 Secure or put away loose items around your house, yard and balcony.
🔸 Unplug computers and appliances and avoid using the phone during the storm.
🔸 Stay indoors away from windows, and keep children and pets indoors as well.

☎️ If you require assistance in floods and storms, call the NSW SES on 132 500. In life threatening situations, call Triple Zero (000).

27/11/2025

⛈️ Storm Damage Update ⛈️

Over 400 incidents were reported to the NSW SES due to severe storms on Wednesday across the Central Coast, Hunter Coast, Hunter Valley and Mid-North Coast.

🦺 Crews are continuing to respond to fallen trees and significant roof and property damage.

⚡️ Over 12,000 properties are currently without power. Ausgrid are working to restore power to these areas. Assume all fallen powerlines are live and keep at least 8 metres away.

☔️ There is the potential for more storms this afternoon across the state. To stay up to date on information and warnings, download the Hazards Near Me app or visit the NSW SES website.

📱 If you require assistance in floods or storms, call the NSW SES on 132 500. In life threatening situations, call Triple Zero (000).

26/11/2025

Cessnock Unit had 2 teams in the field yesterday afternoon and last night attending to calls for assistance after the storms. We have a large volume of calls to work through, so we appreciate your patience. Teams will be back out in the field today.

Thanks to Lake Macquarie Unit for sending a team to assist our communities at Kurri, Greta and North Rothbury which were significantly impacted from severe storms.

Great work from our small team of volunteers!