Heavy rainstorms hit parts of Queensland, Australia, causing severe damage. According to the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), the hailstones were up to 10 cm in diameter.
Thunderstorms with wind speeds exceeding 100 km / h swept over the Capricornia and Central Coast regions, hitting Rockhampton and Yeppun.
BOM meteorologist Kimba Wong said the agency had received reports of a giant hail of about 8 to 10 cm in diameter. "It looks like a tennis ball or even a baseball size, with some even a little larger," he said.
"The spread of the storm itself was quite isolated and very concentrated, and unfortunately it went right through the suburbs or Rockhampton."
Queensland emergency services have received about 80 requests for help, mostly for structural damage in the Rockhampton area.
An emergency services spokesman said there were calls about damaged windows and damaged roofs. “Three quarters of the work was carried out due to structural damage, the rest due to flooding, felling of trees and the like."
A local resident, named Garrett Wells, said residents were terrified of the storm, despite being accustomed to the wild weather. "We haven't even seen anything like this!"
Wells said some of the cars look like they've been shot and at least one person was injured. - One of the pieces of ice hit a guy in the head on the south bank of the Rocky. He hurt him pretty badly.
Eddie Cowie also said that several solar panels were broken. Windshields, windows, cars and roofs were also damaged.
Cowie noted that he had never seen such a storm. "We've had other storms in the last couple of years, heavy storms that have created hail around the region, usually small hail that hasn't created as much damage."
- And in this storm, hail flew the size of a tennis ball.
Granizo grande sobre Yeppoon, Queensland, #Australia. (2020-19-04). #Hails #Hail #Hailstorm #Storm #zabedrosky #Tormenta #Granizada #Tempestade
By: Jo Moody
- David de Zabedrosky (@deZabedrosky) April 20, 2020
Rockhampton has been smashed by hail the size of golf balls. Lasted about 10 minutes.. but that’s more than enough time to rack up a costly damage bill. It was sunny an hour ago @ 7NewsBrisbane @ 7NewsCQ
- Isla Stanich (@IslaStanich) April 19, 2020