Hail as big as golf balls and ferocious winds of up to 116 kilometres per hour have torn through Canberra in a storm that had residents running for cover.
The storm smashed windows, dented cars and tore branches off trees, causing localised flooding.
More than 1,000 homes have lost power, with outages reported in Florey, Griffith, Deakin and Kambah, and dozens more suburbs across the territory.
Since midday, the ESA has received more than 620 requests for assistance, with ACT Ambulance Service attending to two people for minor injuries sustained during the storm.
The ESA said the areas most impacted include Belconnen, the city and the inner south.
The Bureau of Meteorology had issued a warning for “damaging, locally destructive winds, large, possible giant hailstones and heavy rainfall” due to hit the ACT at about 12:30pm, and advised residents to move cars undercover and stay indoors.
They have since reported wind gusts of 116 kilometres per hour, and warned that the storm could redevelop later this afternoon.
Source: ABC News
