A severe weather warning has been issued for damaging winds in Canberra, as heavy storms head for the capital as part of a cold front that is driving down temperatures across the east coast.
There’s also a chance that same cold front could bring snow to the region from about 7am Wednesday, although it is unlikely to be enough to fall on the ground in the suburbs.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued the warning at 4.31pm Tuesday, saying a line of thunderstorms was tracking east and “likely to produce damaging winds in the warning area over the next several hours”.
Meteorologist Melody Sturm said the city could expect about 6mm or 7mm on Tuesday evening.
“This snow is due to a cold front moving through the state and is connected to a low pressure system through our south, more so close to Tasmania. It will move through west to east from the cold front and pass over Canberra,” Ms Sturm said.
Earlier, the bureau tipped snowfall for elevated areas of the ACT such as Mount Ginini and the Brindabellas.
Wednesday is expected to be particularly cold, with the bureau tipping a top of just seven degrees. It says we will have a near 100 per cent chance of rain, with up to 8mm expected to fall and snow falling above 600 metres. There’s also the chance of another thunderstorm.
It says there is the chance of snow falling above 600 metres on Wednesday and Thursday, suggesting some of Canberra’s mountains could get a dusting. Mount Ainslie is 842m and Black Mountain is 812m, for example.
Ahead of the storm warning, the State Emergency Service advises that people should:
- Move your car under cover or away from trees.
- Secure or put away loose items around your house, yard and balcony.
- Keep at least 8 metres away from fallen power lines or objects that may be energised, such as fences.
- Report fallen power lines to either Ausgrid (131 388), Endeavour Energy (131 003), Essential Energy (132 080) or Evoenergy (131 093) as shown on your power bill.
- Trees that have been damaged by fire are likely to be more unstable and more likely to fall.
- Unplug computers and appliances.
- Avoid using the phone during the storm.
- Stay indoors away from windows, and keep children and pets indoors as well.
- Stay vigilant and monitor conditions. Note that the landscape may have changed following bushfires.
- For emergency help in floods and storms, ring the SES (NSW and ACT) on 132 500.
A screen shot from the Bureau of Meteorology of the storm heading for Canberra.
