The heaviest snowfalls in decades have blanketed the NSW Tablelands, turning towns into winter wonderlands and causing chaos on the roads.

Sections of the New England Highway and other major roads were closed and cars became trapped as thick snow was dumped on communities including Guyra, Uralla, and Armidale.

Locals reported between 30 and 60 centimetres of snow by Saturday afternoon in Guyra, which looked more like a European hamlet at Christmastime.

The SES responded to more than 100 vehicles stuck in snow on the New England highway and other roads in the area.

The chance to see snow in Australia drew an influx of weather chasers, which added to the chaos on the roads.

The wintry surprise came as the weather bureau warns of wet weather, flooding and wild winds to impact NSW on Sunday, and a woman was swept away in floodwaters (more below).

Guyra, at an elevation of 1330m, is the highest town of any significant size in Australia outside of the alpine region, according to Weatherzone.

Weatherzone said the snowy conditions were caused by the combination of an upper-level pool of cold air and a low pressure system just off the northern NSW coast pushing moisture inland.

Guyra on Saturday afternoon. Photo: Chris McFerran SE Qld Weather Photography

Surprised residents posted photos and videos to social media.

“Who brought this snow?? It’s unreal!” wrote the Royal Guyra Hotel.

“Main Street, Guyra is lookin’ like a snow globe this morning – massive flakes earlier have blanketed the whole town, and there’s still more coming!”

The NSW SES responded to 100 trapped cars. Photo: NSW SES

Higgins Storm Chasing posted footage of a person snowboarding on the golf course at Guyra.

“It’s not often you can ski in Guyra 🏂 but there has been enough snow this morning that some locals are hitting the golf course slopes.”

Cattle caught by surprise. Photo: Facebook (Travis Thomas Photography)

Wild weather warning

Meanwhile, the weather bureau is warning of wild weather to pound Australia’s east and west coasts on Sunday.

Flooding and severe winds are forecast for northern NSW.

High winds and storms are expected in Western Australia.

Rescuers on Sunday morning will resume searching for a woman swept away in floodwaters overnight in the NSW Hunter region.

NSW police said a car had attempted to drive through floodwater and became stuck — the driver, a 27-year-old woman, escaped unharmed but a female passenger was swept away.

Tens of thousands in NSW spent a night without power as heavy rain, floods and unprecedented snow wreaked havoc.

Between 50 and 100 millimetres of rain drenched parts of NSW’s Mid North Coast and northern Hunter, on Saturday.

The NSW State Emergency Service responded to 745 incidents across 24 hours.

The SES managed to rescue a 40-year-old man stuck in a tree who was later swept into Black Creek, 16km north of Cessnock. He was taken to a hospital for a medical check.

A new low-pressure system is expected to push up the NSW coast on Sunday, but conditions are likely to ease by afternoon, the bureau said.

The bureau upgraded its warning for major flooding in Tamworth and Gunnedah as the Peel and Namoi rivers rose.

Residents in parts of Scone were warned to evacuate by 4am AEST amid a major flood threat.

The NSW SES urged residents at the Ferndale Caravan Park, north of Newcastle, to prepare to evacuate because of potential flooding from increased flows from Chichester Dam into the Williams River.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather warning, as a cold front moves through WA on Sunday, with damaging winds expected across the state’s south west, including Perth, Albany, Bunbury, Margaret River and the goldfields.

“Most of these damaging wind gusts will be driven by showers and thunderstorms,” meteorologist Miriam Bradbury said.

Authorities warn surfers, fishers, swimmers and boating enthusiasts to stay clear of the coast amid dangerous swells.

More than 27,500 NSW homes and businesses experienced power disruptions overnight, Essential Energy said.

People have been urged to stay at least eight metres away from fallen power lines, power poles and damaged electricity equipment.

Lightning temporarily forced the Wallabies and British and Irish Lions to seek cover during Saturday night’s clash in Sydney, before the Australians managed to avoid a series whitewash.

Much of the match was played in torrential rain, while lightning early in the second half forced a rare 38-minute stoppage as several hundred fans were forced to evacuate the stadium to take shelter.

-with AAP