Canberrans experienced gale force winds over the last weeks of July as a cold front washed over south-eastern Australia.
Wind speeds have reached up to 70kmh in the ACT, with rain and ice blown sideways across the capital.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, this winter has been above average for windiness, but it is far from the windiest.
The July mean daily wind run for 2024 was 325.5km, 19.5km above average. The mean daily wind run is measured at 9am, and is an indication of the average wind speed over the previous 24 hours. This means the average wind speed in Canberra this winter has been 13.6kmh, up less than 1kmh on the long-term mean (12.75kmh).
Data from Canberra Airport dating back to 2010 shows that the windiest July on record was in 2016, with a mean daily wind run of 388.6km.
Cold fronts created strong winds
Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Jiwon Park said the recent cold and windy weather was brought by a series of "vigorous" cold fronts that crossed the ACT and NSW.
"On Saturday, July 20, Canberra and southern and eastern NSW had very windy conditions. The front was notable with strong westerly winds associated with it," he said.
"ACT had fresh to strong winds on that day, with 72kmh gust at Mount Ginini, 69kmh at Canberra Airport, and 63kmh at Tuggeranong.
"The hardest hit area by the front was Illawarra/Shoalhaven in NSW where 106kmh wind gust was observed at Albion Park and Kiama."
The strongest wind gust recorded in Canberra this winter was 69kmh on July 20, with the winter record gust still held by a 91 km/h gale on July 12, 2016.
June saw much weaker wind recordings, with the mean daily wind run sitting at 252.5km, 29.4km below average.
The windiest June on record at Canberra Airport was in 2022, with a mean daily wind run of 373.6km.
Snow arrived with cold snap
Mr Park said the cold weather over the last week of July had "significant cold air" associated with it.
"As a result, snow showers or dusting of snow were observed in parts of ACT and surrounding areas like Bungendore, Carwoola, Bredbo, Michelago etc between late Saturday and early Sunday," he said.
"Then the cold and dry airmass left behind from the front, together with a strong high pressure ridge that became the dominant weather system after the front, brought a very cold morning."
Canberra Airport recorded a minus 5 degree minimum temperature on Monday, followed by minus 4 degrees on Tuesday.
