Two kites, whose owners had been waiting since Christmas for a chance to fly them, were finally taken to the sky above the National Arboretum on Saturday, as Canberrans experienced clearer air and a chance to get outside.
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The rain could again return to the capital on Sunday and Monday, with temperatures expected to stay in the low-30s over the following days.
Willow Wiseman, 4, unfurled her new kite she has had to keep inside for weeks.
"Willow got her kite for Christmas and we haven't really been able to get out and fly it until today. It was the perfect day for it," said Willow's mum, Angela Wiseman.
Mrs Wiseman, of Evatt, said Willow had really enjoyed the chance to take the kite out and it would not be long before they found another opportunity to let it take to the wind.
"We did let it go and it flew away, but we got it back. It's safe ... with us now," she said.
Hannah Elias, 8, also got to fly her new kite, which was a present at Christmas from her brother, Sammy, 4.
Derrick Elias, the pair's father, said his children had made and flown kites at the National Arboretum before and had loved the chance to fly a kite again.
"It was basically the first day that we've been able to get the family together to go out, so they were very happy," Mr Elias, of Curtin, said.
No kites were lost forever, despite the windy conditions high above the city.
"It was so windy, we're not the most professional kite flyers, but the children really liked it and they love going to the playground as well," Mr Elias said.
Canberra reached a top of 25.3 degrees on Saturday, with a low of 17.1.
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The air quality index in the nation's capital also returned to levels rated "good", with all three air quality monitoring stations - Florey, Monash and in the city - returning 24-hour rolling average index readings below 60 on Saturday afternoon.
However, one-hour average readings climbed through the day, showing air quality had declined to a level unsuitable for sensitive groups by mid-Saturday afternoon, according to data provided by ACT Health.
A shower or two, with a possible storm, was forecast for Sunday, with a very high chance of showers and the chance of a thunderstorm on Monday.
Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Abrar Shabren said an upper trough would enhance thunderstorm activity over some inland areas on Sunday and Monday.
"So there's a potential for widespread severe thunderstorms through eastern and southern districts on Monday, with this system developing," Mr Shabren said.
"Possibilities of large hail and damaging winds are the main concern at this stage. Monday is also the next day when fire grounds in the south-east and south-west slopes have a good chance of receiving further rainfall."
The temperature is on Sunday forecast to reach 29 degrees, with 27 degrees expected on Monday.
Mr Shabren said temperatures in the region would likely increase through the week but the ACT could be largely spared.
"We might see an increase through to Friday and Saturday, which might, to an extent, create some elevated fire dangers. But we're not looking at anything really significant at this stage," he said.
Jasper Lindell
Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter.
Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter.
