Coastal storms return

Wind and rain are lashing the central New South Wales coast for a second weekend, increasing damage in an already-declared disaster area. The Hunter Valley and Central Coast are still cleaning up after last weekend's ferocious storms and widespread flooding which killed nine people. The weather bureau says winds are backing off somewhat in the Sydney area after reaching 80 kilometres an hour overnight with gusts up to to 90 kilometres. The State Emergency Service is on standby for flash floods and wind damage but doesn't expect conditions to be as severe as last weekend. Current weather warnings cover coastal parts of the Illawarra Sydney and the southern Hunter.(Sydney Morning Herald)