A hailstorm that ravaged Australia’s capital and destroyed a number of CSIRO projects has been declared a "catastrophe".

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation has been surveying the damage with several valuable research projects in tatters.

It is estimated at least 65 CSIRO glasshouses were damaged in Monday's storms, devastating crops of wheat, barley, legumes and cotton.

The research body had been growing the material on-site in an effort to improve crop sustainability, but those efforts now appear to have been in vain.

"For projects that potentially might have been close to the end of say two or three years work, that is really distressing," CSIRO chief operating officer Judi Zielke told the ABC.

"Unfortunately, most of those projects will be totally lost."

Monday's weather event saw a record number of calls made to the ACT Emergency Services Agency - about 1,900 pleas for assistance were registered between midday and 8pm - more than triple the annual average.

Hail the size of golf balls left their mark on buildings and hundreds of cars in a 30-minute frenzy before the sun reappeared.

Emergency services worked through the night to respond to roof and window damage, fallen trees and electrical hazards.

Car windscreens were obliterated at the Australian National University and Old Parliament House, while a wind gust of 117km/h was recorded at Canberra Airport.

At least two people were treated by ACT Ambulance Service for minor injuries from the storm.

The National Museum of Australia shut its doors after the storm tore external roofing, damaged shade cloths and caused leaks in corridors, the cafe and galleries.

Animals were injured during the storm, with a koel, raven, galah, cockatoo and magpie all being treated at the Canberra Referral Hospital.