Severe storms battered Avalon on Saturday afternoon, bringing torrential rain that caused widespread flooding and a devastating landslide that destroyed a home at Great Mackerel Beach.
The deluge began around 2.00pm, with Avalon Beach recording 62.5 millimetres of rainfall in just one hour. The intense downpour overwhelmed drainage systems and stormwater infrastructure, flooding hundreds of homes and dozens of roads across the area.
Shopping centres along Barrenjoey Road at both Avalon Beach and Palm Beach were inundated, while emergency services fielded multiple Triple Zero calls from motorists trapped by rising waters. The rainfall continued throughout the afternoon and evening, with approximately 170 millimetres falling across the area.
At Therry Street in Avalon Beach, NSW State Emergency Service crews rushed to assist a family shortly after 9.00pm. Four adults, two children and two pets were trapped on the upper level of their home as floodwaters engulfed the ground floor.
Great Mackerel Beach bore the brunt of the storm system, recording 264 millimetres of rain over 24 hours. The offshore community’s only road access via fire trail became impassable, leaving residents isolated.
The Great Mackerel Beach Rural Fire Brigade began receiving calls for assistance mid-afternoon as significant flooding affected Monash Parade and Diggers Crescent. By 5.00pm, residents were protecting their homes with sandbags whilst a local electricity substation faced the threat of water inundation.
Although flooding appeared to ease by 7.00pm, the respite proved temporary. Around 9.30pm, the waterlogged hillside behind homes at Diggers Crescent gave way, sending mud and rocks cascading down the slope.
A large tree was uprooted and pushed into the rear of a house, shifting the structure approximately 400 millimetres from its foundations. A couple in their 60s were inside at the time, with the woman reportedly struck by debris as the tree slammed into the building.
Local RFS crews arrived quickly and reported that the couple had been evacuated to a nearby property where two doctors were providing care. The home has been deemed uninhabitable.
Poor weather conditions prevented helicopter access, and even the West Pittwater Rural Fire Brigade boat could not be launched. NSW Police Marine Area Command led a multi-agency response from Church Point, with NSW Ambulance deploying intensive care paramedics, special operations paramedics and two inspectors. Specialist Fire and Rescue NSW firefighters from Narrabeen Station joined the mission.
The rescue teams departed for Great Mackerel Beach by water police boat shortly after 10.30pm. Additional FRNSW crews, including rescue specialists from Darlinghurst and an Urban Search and Rescue team from Blacktown, were mobilised to Church Point.
Upon arrival, paramedics assessed the couple whilst firefighters examined the structural damage. Two neighbouring homes were evacuated as a precaution, though they appeared undamaged with no imminent risk identified.
The man was unharmed, whilst the woman suffered minor leg injuries and was assessed for shock but declined hospital transport after recovering.
The rescue teams’ return to Church Point was delayed whilst water police responded to a vessel torn from its mooring near Coasters Retreat. They arrived back shortly before 1.00am.
Police, Fire and Rescue NSW, RFS and NSW SES crews worked into the early hours of Sunday morning responding to downed trees and flooded homes across the Avalon area.
Published 18-January-2026