Fallen trees and damage reported as storm hits Canberra

A fallen tree blocks Yiman Street in Waramanga after a storm moved through Canberra on Monday afternoon. Picture: Sitthixay Ditthavong

Blackouts have affected some Canberra residents, following a storm which particularly affected the Tuggeranong, Weston Creek and Belconnen regions.

A severe thunderstorm warning issued by the Bureau of Meteorology for Canberra and Queanbeyan no longer remains, but the Emergency Services ACT was still responding to storm damage callouts on Monday evening.

The ESA said they had received 61 callouts for help, and responded to 28 just before 6pm on Monday. Most related to fallen trees, minor flooding in homes and leaking roofs.

Never seen anything like this at Coombs. #canberrastormpic.twitter.com/XrxoifNRjo

— Erna Glassford (@SimplyCheecky) January 31, 2022

"Weather conditions are expected to ease into the evening but the ACT may experience extended rainfall over the next several hours," ACT ESA said.

BOM forecaster Stephen Stefanac said there a low pressure trough over western NSW caused the storm cells.

"That's drawing in a humid and unsettled air mass from the tropics. So imagine you've got northeasterly winds, it's dragging that moisture down from tropical regions into New South Wales and the ACT, and it's very unsettled," he said.

Pictures: ACT ESA

"Over the past few days now we've seen storms devolve across parts of New South Wales and the ACT, and often they've been producing localised heavy rainfall.

"Occasionally they have the potential to produce other things, other phenomena like damaging winds."

Mr Stefanac said there could possibly be a severe thunderstorm on Tuesday, but rain was expected to hold off from about Thursday for the rest of the week.

"There is a possibility again, particularly [Tuesday] afternoon [and] evening, that we might have to put out another severe thunderstorm warning forecasting storms and showers about the region again," he said.

"It looks like from Wednesday on start it will start to settle down for the ACT region. There might be a lingering shower or two on Wednesday, but the potential for heavy rainfall is decreasing by Wednesday.

"And then from Thursday onwards looking pretty settled as we head into the weekend for the ACT region."

You know how sometimes after a shower or swim, that you need to get the water out of your ears.👂🚿

Well, after the rain storm we just had, the subreflector on #DSS43 had a bit of water in it that we tipped out, so we could be ready to communicate with Voyager-2.
📡〰〰〰〰🛰 pic.twitter.com/eu96y4ZoBS

— CanberraDSN (@CanberraDSN) January 31, 2022

The ACT State Emergency Service advises that people should:

• Move your car under cover and away from trees.
  
• Secure or put away loose items around your house and yard.
  
• Keep clear of creeks and storm drains.
  
• Never drive, ride or walk through floodwater.

Updated information and warning map from the @BOM_au regarding the Severe Thunderstorm Warning for the ACT. https://t.co/AKilMQnQ7G

— ACT ESA (@ACT_ESA) January 31, 2022