Canberrans woke to clear skies before the mercury hit a high of 12 degrees at 10.30am. But that soon gave way to rain and gusty winds and a fall in temperature to a chilly 6 degrees within an hour.

The cold change prompted the Bureau of Meteorology to issue a severe weather warning for the territory and parts of coastal and south-east NSW.

Weatherzone.com.au meteorologist Rob Sharpe said wind gusts peaked about 65km/h mid-morning and about five millimetres of rain fell on the capital. He said the temperature would have felt like between 0 and 2 degrees for much of the day.

Meteorologists forecast strong winds and blizzard conditions, as well as fresh snow falls for the Snowy Mountains and Brindabella Range.

Mr Sharpe said Perisher and Thredbo had each received 20 to 30 centimetres of snow by late afternoon. About 15 centimetres of fresh powder dusted Ginninderra and snow also fell at Corin Forest.

Damaging winds with gusts up to 100km/h were forecast for the Snowy Mountains and ACT. The bureau warned the alpine peaks could experience gusts of up to 120km/h.

A heavy shower in the early evening saw 12 millimetres of rain fall in Tuggeranong, while winds of up to 74 km/h lashed the capital about 6pm.

Wet weather and snow falls caused the ACT government to close Corin Road from Square Rock and Bendora Dam Road at Bendora Gate.

Booroomba Rocks Road and Orroral Ridge Road have also been shut, as well as Mount Franklin Road at Piccadilly Circus.

An ACT Emergency Services Agency spokesman said there were only two calls for help throughout the day.

Residents are encouraged to move their vehicles under cover or away from trees, secure or put away loose items around the house, yard and balcony, and to keep clear of any fallen powerlines.

Mr Sharpe said the cold front was attached to a low-pressure system near Tasmania and was expected to bring further strong winds and cold temperatures to the ACT on Sunday.