Canberra and the surrounding region is in for a downpour on Wednesday with the Bureau of Meteorology warning of heavy rain that could lead to flash flooding.
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A severe weather warning for heavy rainfall has been issued as an ex-tropical cyclone is expected to move across the region.
The bureau has also issued a flood watch warning for the Queanbeyan River, where it said minor flooding could occur.
"Heavy rainfall which may lead to flash flooding may develop across parts of inland and southeast NSW later Wednesday and during Thursday," the warning said.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, there is a 100 per cent chance of rain on Wednesday and up to 80mm could fall, on Thursday up to 70mm could fall. This would be more than double the average March rainfall for the ACT.
An ACT Emergency Services Agency spokeswoman said SES crews had responded to 67 call outs as of 1pm on Wednesday.
The spokeswoman said the call outs were mostly due to leaking roofs, which had been damaged in January's hail storm.
There are also reports of water-clogged roads due to blocked storm water drains.
"Volunteer crews from the ACT SES as well as crews from ACT Fire and Rescue are working hard to get to all requests and we ask Canberrans to remain patient," the spokeswoman said.
"The ESA advises that due to the demand for help there may be a longer than usual wait time."
ACT State Emergency Services acting chief officer Jeff Butler said there was no indication as to how quickly the rain system would move across Canberra.
"It could come over a day or more than 100mm in an hour," he said.
"If we did get all the rain coming down at once we would potentially see some flash flooding, water on the road [and] trees coming down as well depending on the wind.
"We'll be monitoring the weather conditions as they come through and talking to BOM about what the weather is doing."
When asked if there was a possibility of hail, Mr Butler said the forecast did not show any at this stage but this could change.
"The January 20 hail we got little warning about, the hail warning only came through at short notice," he said.
Mr Butler said an incident management team would in be in place by 8am on Wednesday.
ACT SES volunteers would be called as needed on Wednesday and Thursday.
Andrew Brown
I've been part of the Canberra Times since 2016, after reporting at local papers in Sydney's north-west. Since starting at the paper I've had stints on the Sunday Times, on the early morning breaking news round, and now as a general reporter, covering the ins and outs of anything and everything happening in Canberra, with a focus on health.
I've been part of the Canberra Times since 2016, after reporting at local papers in Sydney's north-west. Since starting at the paper I've had stints on the Sunday Times, on the early morning breaking news round, and now as a general reporter, covering the ins and outs of anything and everything happening in Canberra, with a focus on health.
Lucy Bladen
Lucy Bladen has been a journalist at The Canberra Times since 2019. She is an ACT politics and health reporter. Email: l.bladen@canberratimes.com.au
Lucy Bladen has been a journalist at The Canberra Times since 2019. She is an ACT politics and health reporter. Email: l.bladen@canberratimes.com.au
