Residents urged to be aware of severe weather alert for northern beaches
Authorities are warning residents to be aware of severe weather alerts as high winds and big surf are on their way.
Manly
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Four people had to be rescued from the surf on the northern beaches on Monday afternoon as emergency authorities braced for wild weather with winds gusting up to 90km/h along the coast.
At North Steyne the police helicopter was called in to help guide rescuers to three kayakers who got into difficulty in the big swell and rough seas.
They made it back to shore and were checked over by ambulance paramedics.
Earlier a swimmer got into difficulties at Curl Curl Beach and was checked, and given the all clear, by ambulance staff.
The area has been relatively unscathed by the deep low pressure system lying just off the coast, but the State Emergency Service (SES) and police are monitoring the situation closely.
There is a severe weather warning in place for coastal areas between the Central Coast and the Victorian border.
The SES Pittwater/Warringah Unit has received just 15 calls for help across the northern beaches since the bad weather began.
A spokesman said the calls were mostly from householders wanting assistance with leaking roofs.
“There has also been some minor flooding, especially at Palm Beach on Sunday afternoon, but nothing too dramatic at this stage,” the spokesman said.
“We will have crews in place and will be monitoring the situation as winds increase later today and tonight.”
The Rural Fire Service helped clear away fallen trees on General San Martin Dr at Terrey Hills this morning and on Mona Vale Rd, near Mccarrs Creek Rd, last night.
Trees also brought down powerlines on Scotland Island overnight.
The Weather Bureau is forecasting that the slow moving low pressure system will bring damaging winds, rain and large wind-driven waves along southern parts of the coast.
It said winds, averaging 60 to 70 km/h with peak gusts in excess of 90 km/h are expected along the parts of the Illawarra and the south coast districts, and are likely to extend to the coastal fringe of Sydney this afternoon.
“Conditions are forecast to ease overnight or during Tuesday morning as the low weakens and moves east.”
There is also a hazardous surf warning from the Hunter Region to the south coast.
Northern Beaches Police said at 2.30pm there had not any major weather-related incidents.
The Wakehurst Parkway was closed for a period this morning due to flooding, but reopened at 7.07am.
The highest wind gust recorded today so far, on North Head, was 56km/h.
At Terrey Hills, just 2.8mm of rain was recorded between 9am and 3pm.