Record cold spell forecast with more rain on the way

Vicitors check out Scrivener Dam after heavy rainfall during the week. Picture: Dion Georgopoulos

Up to 20 millimetres of rain was forecast for Canberra on Saturday with showers possible throughout the weekend and into next week.

It was a wet and cold morning in the capital with temperatures expected to reach a maximum of just 11 degrees on Saturday afternoon.

While the rain was forecast to ease on Sunday, warmer weather was still predicted to be a while away.

The Bureau of Meteorology forecast a top of just 13 degrees on Sunday and 12 degrees on Monday, with possible showers heading into next week.

The run of three cold days would be a record for November in Canberra.

"It's rain coats and woolies," forecaster Agata Imielska of the Bureau of Meteorology said.

Even though there's less chance of very heavy rain, the pick up in wind speed will give added bite to the cold.

The Bureau of Meteorology has warned that there was even a chance of morning frost on Tuesday.

It also warned that high winds presented hazards to drivers and pedestrians if tree branches were dislodged.

People walk through Garema Place in Civic after heavy rainfall. Picture: Dion Georgopoulos

ACT Emergency Service teams were notified of 12 storm-related incidents after the heavy rain on Thursday night.

In the 24 hours into Friday, 31 millimeters of rain fell at Canberra Airport. In contrast, between eight and 15 millimetres was expected on Saturday.

Even with the downpours before the weekend, the ACT got off lightly compared with parts of NSW.

On Thursday, Dubbo was hit with 40 millimetres of rain, most of it in one half hour drenching.

Further north, Narrabri received more rain in a day than it typically expects for the month of November - 76 millimetres fell on Wednesday night.

The heavy rain trapped an empty school bus and three four-wheel drives between two fast-rising creeks near Narrabri. The vehicle occupants sat it out until the waters eased.

Further north, in Bingara, the emergency services ferried stranded holidaymakers out of a flooded caravan park.

In the ACT, the weather starts warming up towards the end of the coming week. By Thursday, a maximum of 21 is forecast, with 24 degrees forecast for Friday.

Summer starts in 17 days.