NSW is set to receive some of its best rain in months as the downpour across the state helps to further quash persistent bushfires.
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Sydney is expected on Friday to receive 10-25mm while up to 50mm are forecast for parts of the state along with thunderstorms.
The Northern Tablelands, Northern Slopes, Northern Rivers, Mid North Coast and Hunter are all expected to receive significant downpours.
Falls of up to 50mm would be the state's most significant rainfall since September last year, with rain expected to continue falling into the weekend.
The NSW SES on Friday morning said it had responded to more than 250 calls for help since Wednesday afternoon, mostly for leaky roofs.
The NSW Rural Fire Service on Thursday welcomed the rain on large firegrounds but warned it wasn't the end of the crisis.
"It won't put all these fires out but certainly it's slowed them right down and I think it's given a significant morale boost," RFS deputy commissioner Rob Rogers told the Seven Network on Friday.
"We've had rainfall on most fires now - at least 10mm - and particularly in the south in areas where it's harder to get to, in the Kosciuszko ranges. They're the ones we're quite happy there's been some rainfall."
On Friday morning, there were 82 NSW bushfires burning - down from 88 on Wednesday evening - after significant rain gave firefighters favourable conditions to strengthen containment lines.
About 30 fires remained out of control.
On Thursday, there were still 1700 firefighters on the ground.
The Bureau of Meteorology on Thursday night issued strong wind warnings for the Hunter and Sydney coasts.
Thunderstorms and heavy rain may bring flash flooding and damaging winds to several areas including Sydney, Port Macquarie, Taree, Armidale, Orange, Canberra, Goulburn and Tamworth.
Australian Associated Press