After battering eastern states communities for almost a week, destructive thunderstorms and heavy rain are easing but flood warnings remain three states. Heavy rain pelted parts of Sydney, including hail in Parramatta and Eastwood, sparking 200 calls for help to the NSW State Emergency Service on Saturday night. The Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe weather warning around 7:30pm for heavy rainfall, damaging winds and large hailstones in parts of NSW. While the warning has since been cancelled, Sydney can expect a high chance of showers on Sunday afternoon and evening with the chance of a thunderstorm. A lingering low-pressure trough has brought showers and thunderstorms to eastern and southern areas, causing rivers to flood, with some people needing to be rescued. The trough is expected to move offshore late on Sunday and into Monday, bringing relief. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms across the NSW-Victorian border area are expected to ease and move eastwards throughout the day. Flood warnings for Victoria's Thomson and Avon rivers have been downgraded, however moderate renewed rises are possible if there's more rain. The bureau warned of possible heavy rainfalls in Gippsland on Sunday with a chance of a thunderstorm in the northeast. On Saturday, parts of the Gippsland region recorded more than 40mm of rain from 9am, with the drenching continuing into the afternoon. The SES has received more than 900 requests for help since the beginning of the storm and rain event on Wednesday, with about 700 relating to fallen trees. Parts of eastern Victoria are predicted to record rainfalls of 100mm across the weekend on top of the 200 to 300mm received since Wednesday. Australian Associated Press
