Expect another drenching with storms on the cards for today. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
Save washing your car for another day, with heavy rain and storms expected to impact Canberra today (8 September).
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has predicted the ACT could see anywhere from 15 to 25 millimetres, but that doesn’t include anything that widespread thunderstorms could deliver.
While the more severe storms were expected for inland parts of Queensland and northern NSW, the ACT would still get its fair share.
“We could see storms anywhere from Queensland right down to Victoria,” said BoM meteorologist Christie Johnson.
“[We’ll have] widespread falls of 15 to 40 millimetres, with some local heavier falls, particularly with thunderstorms.”
A minor flood watch has been issued for the catchment just west of the ACT and other inland parts of NSW.
“Any of these areas could see renewed river rises with the forecast rainfall,” Ms Johnson said.
All this rain’s been caused by a low-pressure system and a cold front interacting with a feed of tropical moisture being pulled down from the Indian Ocean.
Thursday (8 September) forecast rainfall across the ACT. Photo: Bureau of Meteorology.
Weatherzone meteorologist Ben Domensino said today and tomorrow’s lighter rainfall won’t be the last we’ll see of the wet weather.
However, it won’t be anywhere near as heavy as what’s expected today.
“Following this nationwide soaking, another cloud band and cold front will deliver some follow-up rain over central and south-eastern Australia on the weekend,” he said.
It’s as the BoM’s winter summary for Canberra has shown the season’s rainfall was 100 to 150 per cent of the winter average.
While we had a drier than average June and July, August more than made up for the lack of moisture.
The wettest day was in the 24 hours to 9 am on 5 August when a strong cold front embedded with thunderstorms passed over the Territory.
Most BoM sites recorded more than 50 mm that day, with the Darke St site in Torrens having its highest winter daily rainfall on record of 64.2 mm.
The Australian National Botanic Gardens, Isabella Plains and Australian Institute of Sport sites also smashed their August rainfall records on the 5th, with 54.8 mm, 57.2 mm and 58.2 mm, respectively.
Canberra Airport recorded its highest August total since 1998, with a total of 116.4 mm.
With the country on La Niña watch, it’s expected the rains will continue to pour in the months ahead.
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