Earlier in the day a severe weather warning was issued with high parts of the territory tipped to receive damaging winds averaging 60 kilometres per hour with gusts likely to reach more than 90km/h.

Wind speeds at Canberra Airport reached 80km/h at about 1.30pm before gradually dying down to 50km/h by 7pm.

The Bureau of Meteorology cancelled the warning shortly before 6pm as the high winds, caused by a cold front moving through south-eastern NSW, eased.

The windy weather kept Saturday's night-time low seven degrees above average at 10 degrees with the 6.8 millimetres of rain falling overnight equal to the total rainfall for April, Weatherzone meteorologist Craig McIntosh said.

"Wind acts to help mix the atmosphere and doesn't allow cold air to sink," he said.

"May is supposed to be warm across Australia, the bureau climatologists have predicted above average temperatures to continue and we've started it well above."

The gale force winds on Sunday, when temperatures reached 21, prompted Territory and Municipal Services to close Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve about 12.30pm.

Average wind speeds in areas above 1900 metres were tipped to exceed 90km/h, the BOM said, with gusts in excess of 120km/h.

Thredbo Top Station recording the highest wind gusts for the region at 113km/h about 11.15am before weakening to 72km/h by 7pm.

Wind gusts at Perisher Valley reached 89 km/h at 10.49am before dying down to 69.

Snow was "possible" in Thredbo in areas above 1900 metres on Sunday night when temperatures were expected to dip to minus 2, according to the BOM.

Mr McIntosh said a light dusting of snow at high elevations was not uncommon for early May, but was unlikely to last for long.

"The ground is not cold enough for it to settle... and it will be wet… but the ingredients are there for it," he said.

Despite the wild weather an Emergency Services Agency spokesman said the ACT SES received less than 10 calls, including one report of a tree branch resting on a powerline in Aranda, with no major damage as of 6pm.

Queanbeyan SES responded to three callouts due to the strong winds as of about 1.30pm, according to its Facebook page.

The wind failed to hamper efforts to extinguish a large rubbish fire at Pialligo which began on Thursday.

The ESA spokesman said 12 fire crews remained on the scene on Sunday wetting down the wood chip piles as heavy earthmoving equipment pulled it apart.

Firefighters were also patrolling the perimeter to keep the fire contained.

Monday was expected to be Canberra's coolest day of the week with a maximum of 17 and an overnight low of 3.

But the days were tipped to warm up to 22 by Friday with above average overnight temperatures.