Storms swept through Canberra dumping rain in volleys of lightning and thunder yesterday (Thursday, 7 Feb 2008).  A total of 16.4mm fell between 9am and 9.30pm.

The Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe thunderstorm warning for flash flooding and damaging winds just after 4pm yesterday.  The warning covered metropolitan Illawarra and ACT and parts of the Hunter, South Coast, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands and South-West Slopes.

The ACT Emergency Services Agency attended six jobs from mid-afternoon to evening, all on Canberra's Southside.  An ESA spokesman said only minor damage was caused with cases of leaking roofs and fallen tree branches.  Four units from the State Emergency Service were deployed, as well as the ACT Fire Brigade.

ACTEW Corporation water storage levels rose to 48.8%.  ACTEW spokeswoman Marlene Stolt said yesterday's downpour was 'a good boost'.  "We've had good rainfall over our catchments in the last couple of days," Ms Stolt said.  "The rainfall's also been good because our consumption's been down."

Ms stolt said the dam levels had increased by 0.6% in about the last five days.  Up-to-date forecasts of what the rainfall would mean for water restrictions should be available in the near future.

The heavy rain and storms on February 7 missed Gungahlin, with just 0.3mm falling in the period between 9am and 9.30pm.  In contrast, Canberra AP received 16.4mm and Tuggeranong 14.4mm over the same period.

 

7 February 2008	Rainfall
Canberra AP	16.4mm
Tuggeranong	14.4mm
Gungahlin	0.3mm

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