Heavy rainfall may lead to flash flooding in the ACT, the Bureau of Meteorology has warned.

The BOM issued a severe thunderstorm warning today for damaging winds and heavy rainfall – following a warning yesterday for Tuesday.

At 1pm today, severe thunderstorms were detected on the weather radar near Belconnen, Hall, and Gungahlin, moving towards Canberra Civic, Queanbeyan, Canberra Airport, and South Canberra.

Since yesterday, 65 mL of rain have fallen at Canberra Airport and 61 mL at Tuggeranong, ACT State Emergency Service Chief Officer Anthony Draheim said; another 20 mL is likely to fall by the end of the day. Rain is likely to ease off after 11pm, the BOM predicts.

While the BOM predicts more heavy rain for the next few days, Mr Draheim expects this will be the worst of this weather event.

Flood warnings have been issued for the Queanbeyan River at Queens Bridge and for the Molonglo River at Oak Estate. As of this morning, Mr Draheim said, water levels were moderate.

In the last 24 hours, the ACT SES and ACT Fire & Rescue have responded to 81 requests for assistance: mostly damaged and leaking rooves, Mr Draheim said. Some small branches and the like had fallen; Mr Draheim thought it fortunate that there had not been any high winds yet, bringing down trees.

Mr Draheim asked the community to be prepared.

Continue to look at the weather on the BOM and ESA websites, and follow the ESA social media channels on Facebook and Twitter.

If you have not done so, download a survival plan. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a storm event, a flood event, or a fire event, the plan is capable of you supporting yourself and your household event with that one plan,” Mr Draheim said.

Move your cars under cover, or away from trees, especially trees that might fall over.

Clean up your backyard: secure or put away loose items around your house, yard, and balcony.

Keep at least 8 metres away from fallen power lines or objects that may be energised, such as fences.

Keep clear of creeks and storm drains.

Don’t walk, ride your bike, or drive through flood water.

Stay indoors, away from windows, and keep children and pets indoors as well.

Don’t clean your gutter, though. You are more likely to have an accident while on the roof in weather like this, Mr Draheim said.

For assistance during storms and floods, call the ACT SES on 132 500.  

In a life-threatening emergency, call Triple Zero (000).