© Lauretta ArtzLarge hailstones fell on Ashburton on Wednesday afternoon, including some the size of golf balls.
Stones, some as large as a $2 coin, sent Ashburton residents running for cover about 3pm on Wednesday, and as the storm moved north of the town cars were seen veering off State Highway 1 in search of trees under which to shelter.
The storm was accompanied by sustained periods of thunder and lightning, and brought hailstones some residents described as the size of golf balls.
Many workers in Ashburton's town centre returned to their cars after work, wondering what damage they'd find.
Thankfully, much of it was minor, but there were reports of shattered glass in glasshouses.
Other residents reported damage to property and cars.
Mid Canterbury Federated Farmers arable chairwoman Joanne Burke was in town when the first hailstorm hit, and her car was dented, but she said there would be minimal crop damage for the district's farmers.
"Damage appears to be localised in a narrow strip very close to Ashburton," she said.
"We are very fortunate it was short-lived and petered out quickly."
After a second hailstorm hit shortly after 6pm though, a source told Stuff that many dairy farmers would face a nervous wait to see how their fodder beet and kale crops came through the storms.
Annette Scott lives just north-east of Ashburton. She said she thought the storm would miss her house, but was surprised by a racket on the tile roof.
"It was just bouncing off like ping-pong balls."
Scott said the hail was causing waves on her pond.
"I'm sure the fish have a migraine now."
She said she'd never seen hail so fierce or that lasted so long.
"Somewhere it might have hit even harder, because you could see it was blacker in other parts when you looked around."
Source: Sunday Star Times
Reader Comments
to our Newsletter