Huge Hailstones Blast Melbourne, Australia
By Dave Samuhel, Senior Meteorologist
Mar 7, 2010; 10:11 AM ET
Powerful thunderstorms struck Melbourne, Australia, Saturday with high winds and hail. According to the Australia Bureau of Meteorology the largest hail stones were 4 inches across (softball-sized). Widespread damage occurred, mostly from hail, but also 60 mph winds and flooding.
Satellite image at the time when the powerful thunderstorms slammed Melbourne.
Thunderstorms moved through during the middle of the afternoon. Downtown Melbourne was struck especially hard. Water was 1 to 2 feet deep as it raced through city streets during the downpour. Golf ball-sized hail fell for 10 minutes. A few of the hailstones were as big as baseballs and even softballs.
Marquee landmarks across Melbourne were damaged. The large hail tore holes in the South Cross Train Station, one of the busiest in town. Major roof damage affected the Etihad Stadium and the Arts Centre.
Powerful thunderstorms are not common to Melbourne. The city lies next to a cold body of water, similar to cities on the West Coast of the United States. The monster hail reported in Melbourne could be unprecedented for the city.
The thunderstorms were part of a storm system that has affected eastern Australia for several days. Days after the rain ended, major river flooding is occurring in Queensland and New South Wales.
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Daily U.S. Extremes
past 24 hours
| Extreme | Location | |
|---|---|---|
| High | 113° | Death Valley, CA |
| Low | 30° | Bellemont, AZ |
| Precip | 9.70" | Miami, FL |
WeatherWhys®
A large, horrific tornado struck the city of Joplin, Mo., last year on this date. The twister cut a deadly path across the south side of the city, leaving over 159 dead and at least 1,150 injured. The Joplin tornado currently ranks as the 7th deadliest tornado in U.S. history.
This Day In Weather History
New Hampshire (1814)
A tornado crossed Merrimac, Litchfield, Londonderry and North Chester. The same storm produced hailstones that had an 11-inch circumference and weighed 1/2 pound.
Northeast (1989)
More rain in an already wet month. Monthly totals topped 11 inches at New York City, 9 inches at Bridgeport, Conn., and 8 inches at Baltimore (all three totals set records for May).
Rough Weather
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