Northern beaches storms: High winds and heavy rain with more to come

Dedicated SES volunteers have been called out to tackle fallen trees and damaged roofs after a wild storm smashed through the northern beaches.

Volunteers from the Pittwater/Warringah Unit of the State Emergency Service were called out to 15 locations to assist residents after the wild thunderstorm on Monday afternoon. Picture: SES Pittwater/Warringah

Homes were damaged, roofs leaked and 10 trees were brought down during the wild thunderstorm that smashed through the northern beaches on Monday.

The areas hardest hit by the gusty winds — which hit 65 km/h — were in a band of suburbs stretching from Frenchs Forest, through to Newport and on to Church Point.

About 14mm of rain was recorded at Terrey Hills between 4pm and 11.30pm.

A SES volunteers cuts through a fallen tree on Monday night. Picture: SES Pittwater/Warringah

Volunteers from the Pittwater/Warringah Unit of the NSW State Emergency Service answered 15 calls for assistance across the Northern Beaches Council area.

The clean up comes as another severe thunderstorm is likely late this afternoon.

Duty forecaster at the Bureau of Meteorology Helen Reid said that storms would affect “quite a wide area” of NSW throughout the day.

Volunteers from the Pittwater/Warringah Unit of the SES work to cover a leaking roof with a tarpaulin. SES Pittwater/Warringah

“The western part of Sydney metro is likely to get something that’s severe,” Ms Reid.

“There is a possibility that it could keep coming right through to the coast as well.

“That’s more likely to happen in the afternoon, quite a similar sort of thing to (Monday).”

A driveway is blocked by fallen trees and shrubs. Picture: SES Pittwater/Warringah

Three SES crews, made up of a total of 16 local volunteers, worked on Monday night and Tuesday morning to remove fallen trees and large tree branches from properties, roads and pathways.

Windows were broken during the wild storm. Picture: SES Pittwater/Warringah

A spokesman said the crews also assisted householder with damaged and leaking roofs.

“It was a busy night for us with 11 requests for assistance in the immediate aftermath of the storm,” he said.

A SES volunteer works to clear a fallen tree just after Monday’s storm. Picture: SES Pittwater/Warringah

“We had another three calls since then.

“The crews had to attend 10 locations to assist with fallen trees caused by high winds and heavy rain in an area that included Frenchs Forest, Newport, Bayview, Church Point and Clareville.”

A number of large tree branches fell on homes during the storm that had winds gusting to 65km/h. Picture: SES Pittwater/Warringah

If you need emergency assistance due to flood or storm damage, call the NSW SES on 132 500. If the life threatening, call 000.