Emergency services were called to Black Creek on Old North Road in Rothbury, 16km from Cessnock, about 7.50pm yesterday after reports a small car was trapped in floodwater.

Police discovered the driver of a Mini Countryman had attempted to drive through floodwater before the car became bogged down.

The driver, a 27-year-old Chinese national, and her passenger, a 26-year-old Chinese national, tried to exit the car however the passenger was swept away.

New England Police District Commander, Detective Superintendent Steve Laksa said the women are cousins and live in Drummoyne in Sydney.

Laksa said the 27-year-old driver was able to surface after being swept into the water and managed to save her dog.

The driver was uninjured.

The pair had been staying in Cessnock for the weekend and had attempted to leave the area via the causeway before the car was swept away.

Both women were on working visas.

Laksa said the powerful floodwaters had taken the car down a four-metre embankment.

Both the missing woman and the car remain unaccounted for.

The missing woman’s family have been contacted by police.

“They’re obviously all distraught… it’s not a great situation, it’s an awful situation they are confronted by,” Laksa said.

“Everyone’s doing the best they can.”

A large-scale search for the missing woman, including firefighters and SES, was suspended overnight.

The search for the woman will resume today.

NSW SES crews also found a 40-year-old man stuck in a tree nearby after he became trapped in floodwater yesterday.

He was swept down the creek and was spotted clinging to trees when authorities arrived to help the two women.

SES crews were able to pull him out.

He is not connected to the missing woman or her cousin.

The man was treated at the scene by ambulance before being taken to hospital.

Old North Road in Rothbury has been closed due to flooding.

Authorities have warned drivers to avoid trying to pass through flood-impacted areas.

Heavy rainfall across large parts of NSW have caused flooding and the SES has issued 38 warnings for residents.

More rain is forecast to hit the Coffs Coast, Mid North Coast, Upper Hunter and New England regions later today, with 24-hour totals between 65 and 100mm.

Some isolated totals are expected to reach 130mm.

“We’ve had crews in Tamworth doorknocking low-lying areas to alert locals of potential localised flash flooding and road closures overnight tonight,” SES Assistant Commissioner Nicole Hogan said.

“We implore the community to never drive, walk or play in floodwater – if you come across a flooded road, turn around and find an alternative route.”

An emergency warning has been issued for parts of Scone due to major flooding, and people have been asked to evacuate.

An evacuation centre in Scone is open at the Basketball Stadium.

Damaging wind gusts topping 90km/h and powerful surf are forecast to impact the region today too.

Black ice is also causing dangerous conditions in the Northern Tablelands.

Snow is falling in the area at “depths never seen before”, the SES said.

“We have road crash crews prepositioned and ready to respond to any rescues, but we ask the community to please avoid unnecessary travel,” Hogan said.

“If you do need to be on the roads in areas with snow, drive with caution, always use your brakes gently and drive slowly.”