© Lauretta ArtzLarge hailstones fell on Ashburton on Wednesday afternoon, including some the size of golf balls.
Hailstones the size of golf balls rained down on Ashburton as thunder and lightning storms swept across Mid Canterbury.
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.
Comment: Reports of a sonic boom being responsible for the mysterious shaking also appear to have been discounted. "Based on initial reports we're receiving, it's inconsistent with a military sonic boom taking place," Marc Calero, a spokesperson for the Naval Air Station at Lemoore said Wednesday evening. "The way people have described it seems highly inconsistent with a sound barrier being broken."