NSW floods, northern beaches: Narrabeen Lagoon residents ordered to evacuate

The SES said once floodwaters reaches two metres at Narrabeen Lagoon, the area will be isolated.

"If you remain in the area after 7pm on Tuesday, March 8 you may be trapped without power, water and other essential services and it may be too dangerous to rescue you," the SES warning said.

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"Take pets, essential items, warm clothes, medicines, insurance documents and valuables with you. Relocate other personal possessions to a safer/higher place."

The affected area is all properties surrounding Narrabeen Lagoon: from Wakehurst Parkway, Narrabeen bordered by The Esplanade, west of Pittwater Road from Goodwin Street to Albert Street then along Lagoon Street to Octavia Street, properties west of Lisle St, including low-lying properties of Emerald St and Malcom St, Walsh Street west of Pittwater Rd towards Warriewood Rd along Macpherson St down Garden St to Pittwater Rd including low-lying properties of Nareen Pde, Gondola Rd, Rickard Rd, Windsor Pde and Bristol Lane.

An evacuation centre has been established at Mona Vale Memorial Hall at 1 Park Street, Mona Vale.

Manly Dam area

NSW SES is directing residents and businesses within low lying parts downstream of Manly Dam to prepare to evacuate.

These include parts of Manly Vale and North Manly downstream of Manly Dam along Manly Creek, Brookvale Creek and Burnt Bridge Creek. Area bounded by Allambie Road, Pittwater Road, Balgowlah Street, Burnt Bridge Deviation and King Street.

Should residents need to leave, the NSW SES will issue an evacuation order.

THE SES has issued an urgent alert for residents in the Manly Dam area to evacuate immediately.

"Manly Dam has reached red alert and has commence overtopping," the SES said.

"Residents in adjacent low-lying areas below Manly Dam need to leave evacuate immediately. Do not delay your travel, leave now."

There are around 800 homes with 2000 residents in this area.

Northern Beaches Council mayor Michael Regan said the storm was an evolving situation.

"What we are seeing so far is absolutely devastating," he said. "Manly and surrounding areas have been hit as have many other areas around Balgowlah, Narrabeen and further afield.

"Our crews are working alongside and supporting local emergency services and preparing to set up relocation centres across the region."

A DANGEROUS and intense thunderstorm is sitting over the northern beaches, with 2000 residents around Manly Dam told to prepare for a possible evacuation.

At 2.45pm, there were no official evacuations ordered for Manly Dam area, but with water spilling over authorities are monitoring the situation closely.

Elsewhere across the northern beaches, homes and streets have been left inundated by floodwaters and "life-threatening flash flooding" is possible, authorities warn.

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Buses across the LGA have been cancelled. Reports of waterspouts off the coast are being received, which brings localised and intense rainfall.

Emergency services are being called to flooding incidents and rescues across the LGA, including in: Dee Why, Collaroy, Manly, Warriewood, North Manly and Cromer.

Weatherzone meteorologist Joel Pippard said waterspouts are very common along the east coast, especially during severe thunderstorms.

"It's like a tornado, but it isn't a tornado," he said. "They draw water up into the clouds and they produce heavy precipitation near them."

There is a weather warning in place for heavy rainfall and damaging winds, with up to 90mm of rain possible and peak gusts up to 90km/h predicted.

So far on Tuesday, there has been 82.6mm of rain in Manly and 91mm in Terrey Hills.

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Mr Pippard said the very slow moving storm is "very dangerous and is producing intense rainfall".

"The storm really isn't moving anywhere, it's not going anywhere anytime soon," he said.

As the heavy rain continues, authorities are concerned trees may fall due to the water-logged ground.

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Deputy mayor Candy Bingham is among those stuck inside the Manly 16 Foot Skiff Club due to floodwaters.

"Trapped inside as massive torrent of water cascading down the stairs and into the club house," she said.

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