Storms shook the Canberra region on Thursday night, after the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) issued a severe thunderstorm warning for damaging winds and heavy rainfall.
The ACT received more than 70mm of rain since Wednesday morning.
ACT State Emergency Service volunteers received more than 35 requests for assistance, and Coppins Crossing has been closed until further notice due to the inclement weather.
With rain expected to continue into the weekend and a chance of thunderstorms, the risk of localised flooding and storm damage is increased, SES warned.
Shane Evans was surprised when a photo he snapped of the storm from his Kingston balcony captured the moment lightning struck.
"It was past 11 o'clock last night, I think I was just looking at BoM rain radar, I could see the storm clouds were rolling in and just went out on the balcony and had a look," he said.
"There was thunder and lightning, you could say sort of rolling in."
"It looked like from where I am, like it was coming in from across the city."
Showers will continue over Friday and into the weekend, according to the forecast, but much less downfall is expected.
Around three to 10 millimetres is expected for Friday, with the chance of another thunderstorm.
Two to four millimetres of rain will carry through to Saturday, with a chance of a storm in the late morning and afternoon, while Sunday will likely see just one millimetre of rain. There's also a 60 per cent chance of rain on Monday, and a 50 per cent chance on Tuesday, but sunny weather is forecast to return on Wednesday.
The BOM's weather warning was cancelled at 5.13am on Friday, with advice that immediate threat of severe storms had passed.
Meanwhile, central west NSW residents have a big clean-up ahead after a tornado ripped through the region, injuring three people, destroying homes and sheds and tearing down trees and powerlines.
The violent storm travelled up to 30km on Thursday afternoon and demolished a house at Meadow Flat in the Bathurst region, while at least one other home along with sheds and other structures were also destroyed in the area.
Bureau of Meteorologist senior climatologist Agata Imielska said there was damage over a 25 to 30km line, running roughly northwest.
This included destroyed and damaged houses, cars, many fallen trees and powerlines across roads.
Did you capture pictures of the storm last night? Send them through to us here at online@canberratimes.com.au.
