Weather News

Mini twister tears through Murrumbateman

Damage: a mini tornado has damaged trees, sheds and outdoor structures near Murrumbateman. - ABC

Residents near Murrumbateman north of Canberra are still cleaning up after a mini tornado tore through the area late last night.

Severe thunderstorms in the Canberra region kept emergency services busy overnight after a dust storm swept over the ACT, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia in the afternoon.

Resident John Gelling says it was a day of bad weather.

"About 5:00pm we had a tremendous storm with hail stones as big as golf balls, luckily no damage," he said.

"We thought that would be the worst of it but then at about 10:00pm last night we heard this incredible roar.

"It sounded like a jumbo jet rumbling on to the roof and we started to hear a few crashes as bits of the shade batons flew off."

The Bureau of Meteorology says mini tornadoes are not uncommon.

- ABC

© ABC 2009

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