Severe thunderstorm warning for parts of ACT on Saturday evening
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Saturday evening, warning that heavy rainfall, damaging winds and large hailstones may hit parts of the ACT.
The warning area covers northern parts of the territory and several parts of the Canberra region, including Yass and Goulburn.
"It's only just kissing the north of the ACT," duty forecaster Steph Spackman said shortly before 4pm on Saturday.
"We currently have a line of thunderstorms along the trough, with the main part of the trough lying just to the north of the ACT, hence the warning.
"We're expecting somewhere between 10 and 20 millimetres [of rain in the ACT] unless there is a thunderstorm directly overhead, then we could easily see 15 or 20 millimetres more."
During the weather warning, the State Emergency Service advised people to:
- Move their car under cover or away from trees;
- Secure or put away loose items around your house, yard and balcony;
- Keep at least eight metres away from fallen power lines or objects that may be energised, such as fences
- Report fallen power lines to either Ausgrid on 131 388, Endeavour Energy on 131 003 or Essential Energy on 132 080, as shown on their power bill;
- Unplug computers and appliances;
- Avoid using the phone during the storm;
- Stay indoors away from windows, and keep children and pets indoors as well.
Anyone needing emergency help in floods and storms should ring the State Emergency Service on 132 500.
Ms Spackman said rain in Canberra should ease overnight into Sunday, which was expected to be dry.
She said the bureau was not forecasting any significant rainfall next week in the capital.
"There's the possibility of some small showers on Tuesday, just enough for a bit of a reprieve [from the hot weather] and a drink for the garden," Ms Spackman said.
Temperatures are expected to drop dramatically in the ACT during the week, after creeping above 37 degrees on Friday in the territory's hottest day of the summer so far.
The mercury is only expected to rise above 30 degrees once during the week, on Wednesday, before falling back to a maximum of 27 degrees on Thursday.