One dead after wild storm hits Sydney’s northern beaches

An elderly woman has died and there are multiple serious injuries after a huge storm in Narrabeen on Sunday afternoon. See video of the chaotic scene here.

One woman is dead and two others have been rushed to hospital after a freak storm that some likened to a mini tornado smashed Sydney’s northern beaches.

The storm cell – which the Bureau of Meteorology said was short-lived – first struck the area about 3pm on Sunday, tearing apart buildings and ripping up trees in suburbs from Forestville to Mona Vale.

Authorities said the three women were “simply in the wrong place at the wrong time” when lightning struck a tree that came crashing down onto them in a car park in Ocean St, Narrabeen, as wild winds lashed the area.

A woman, aged in her 70s, was declared dead at the scene while two others were rushed to Royal North Shore Hospital with serious injuries.

Emergency services were called to the a car park in Narrabeen after a tree and powerlines fell. Picture: John Grainger

Cars veer fallen branches after the storm. Picture: John Grainger

These included a woman in her late teens who suffered spinal injuries and another woman in her 70s.

The two elderly women were friends.

Northern Beaches Police Commander Pat Sharkey said police and other emergency services had so far responded to 300 calls for assistance across the northern beaches.

He said multiple traffic signals were blacked out as were a number of homes and businesses between Warriewood and Dee Why. Superintendent Sharkey urged people to stay at home and not make any unnecessary movements until the area was deemed safe.

A storm damaged roof that flew off and landed on this apartment block near Pacific Parade at Dee Why Beach after a storm ripped through the Northern Beaches. Picture: Damian Shaw

A damaged car on Ocean Street in Narrabeen after a storm. Picture: Damian Shaw

Storm damage near Pacific Parade at Dee Why. Picture: Damian Shaw

The three women were walking along the eastern side of Ocean Street in front of Narrabeen Surf Lifesaving Club when the tree fell on them.

NSW Ambulance Inspector Christie Marks said paramedics were confronted with a tragic scene when they arrived in the car park.

“This was just a tragic scene to attend – these women were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time when this storm hit,” Insp Marks said.

“As you can imagine the patients had multiple injuries after being hit by falling branches and other debris.

“We worked to treat them at the scene and get them to hospital for further care.

“The strength of the storm is evident in the destruction it caused.

“Given the size of this tree it’s remarkable that there weren’t more people injured.”

A young boy also avoided being seriously injured the incident.

Witnesses said they heard screams during the chaos.

“A tree fell down at Narrabeen on Sydney’s northern beaches during this afternoon’s storm. My family lives across the road and heard screams. They said at least one person is dead and multiple people were injured,” David Lewis wrote online.

Bureau of Meteorology spokesman Stephen Stefanac said the storm was caused by humid air and a low pressure trough that created a “very unstable situation”.

A ute damaged by a fallen tree. Picture: John Grainger

Fallen branches litter a footpath. Picture John Grainger

“The storm basically formed in northwestern parts of Sydney, it formed pretty quickly,” he said.

“We’ve got this low pressure trough extending from the tropics southward into NSW, this has been pushed west by a cold front … and we have humid air to the east of that … making a very unstable situation.”

Winds were recorded reaching up to 80km/h, Mr Stefanac said.

“Someone’s roof is in my driveway, all the wires have been busted down … this guy’s car got javelined,” one man said in video footage of the storm’s aftermath on Seven News.