'Golf ball sized hail' reported as storms hammer Canberra, head for South Coast

Homeowners are cleaning up after a hail storm hit Weston this afternoon. Photo: Supplied.

Parts of Canberra have been hit by a severe thunderstorm, with large hailstones pelting areas of Weston, Gungahlin, Hall and near Lake George.

Late this afternoon the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) issued a severe weather warning for northern parts of the ACT and Bungendore, predicting a “very dangerous thunderstorm, with intense rainfall and large to possibly giant hail and damaging wind gusts”.

It said three to four centimetre hailstones were observed in Canberra around 3:30 pm.

Photo: Smrity Bhuiyan / Facebook

Photo: Rach Naa / Facebook

Photo: Rach Naa / Facebook

Photo: Smrity Bhuiyan / Facebook

There have also been reports of “golf ball sized hail” and flash flooding in Weston Creek, hail in Belconnen, Ngunnawal, Taylor, Bonner, and Mitchell and power out in Evatt.

Winds of between 40 and 50 km/h were recorded at Canberra Airport and 35 km/h at Queanbeyan just before 4 pm.

With severe thunderstorms continuing to develop across parts of the Great Dividing Range, people were also being warned to prepare for storm activity on the South Coast, on the Southern Tablelands, and Snowy Mountains. The BoM said locations which may be affected include Braidwood, Canberra, Goulburn, Cooma, Bredbo and Nimmitabel.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the areas in yellow. Image: BoM.

The State Emergency Service advised 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 eight 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.
• Keep clear of creeks and storm drains.
• Don’t walk, ride your bike or drive through flood water.
• If you are trapped by flash flooding, seek refuge in the highest available place and ring 000 if you need rescue.
• Unplug computers and appliances.
• Avoid using the phone during the storm.
• Stay indoors away from windows, and keep children and pets indoors as well.
• For emergency help in floods and storms, ring the SES (NSW and ACT) on 132 500.

Original Article published by Kim Treasure on Riotact.