Huge ‘tennis-ball sized’ hail hits Granite Belt as severe storms pass through

Granite Belt residents have described the biggest hail they’ve ever seen after a huge storm swept over parts of the region on Thursday.

Granite Belt residents were hit by large tennis ball-sized hail that fell on Thursday afternoon during a huge thunderstorm.

Hail covers grass at property in Glen Niven October 14, 2021. Photo: Catherine Coker / contributed

Pozieres resident Kylie Short witnessed the hailstorm at her home around 4pm and was alerted to it by the hail “pinging” her roof.

“The storm just got steadily bigger and bigger and then finished up and went further east and then came back and that’s when all the big spiky bits started hitting the ground,” she said.

Ms Short said the hail was the size of a tennis ball at about 8cm in diameter.

“The initial stuff was quite heavy and intense for about 10 minutes there was hail and once it past over it was a bit quieter,” she said.

“There’s been a couple of hail storms this year, but it’s the biggest hail I’ve seen here in this two-year period.”

Hailstorm in Pozieres on October 14, 2021. Photo: Kylie Short / contributed

Ms Short said she was hopeful her roof was not damaged.

“There’s no damage that I can see, but I’ll guess I’ll find out if its poked a hole in the roof or not when it rains,” she said.

Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Harry Clark said there was pretty significant hail across the wider region on Thursday afternoon.

“The thunderstorms formed around 2pm until 5pm, we don’t know if it was producing hail that whole time, but the storm was severe,” he said.

Hail in Southern Downs October 14, 2021. Photo: Kylie Short / contributed

Hail storms are not unusual at this time of the year according to Mr Clark.

“October is the start of the season thunderstorms it usually peaks from now until early December,” he said.

Mr Clark said the threat of another hailstorm was imminent, with the major risk from sunrise until early afternoon on Friday under potentially severe thunderstorm activity.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Service advises that residents:

• Move your car under cover or away from trees
• Secure loose outdoor items
• Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees
• Avoid using the telephone during a thunderstorm
• Beware of fallen trees and powerlines
• For emergency assistance contact the SES on 132 500