Rare hail event hits Cairns’ southern suburbs

A rare tropical hailstorm that has amazed long-time Cairns residents has coincided with a Bureau warning for damaging winds, large hailstones, heavy rainfall and flash flooding.

Cairns' Division 2 Councillor Matthew Tickner posted this photo, taken by his uncle Mark Sheppeard, from the CBD, looking back on the storm coming through the southern suburbs.

A rare tropical hailstorm that has amazed long-time Cairns residents has coincided with a Bureau warning for damaging winds, large hailstones and heavy rainfall.

At 2.21pm residents of the North Tropical Coast and Tablelands in a zone boarded by Cairns Atherton, Mareeba, Innisfail and Oak Beach were warned of severe thunderstorms that are likely to produce damaging winds and heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding over the next several hours.

According to the Bureau of Meteorology, parts of the North Tropical Coast and Tablelands district including Cairns, Mareeba, Atherton, Yarrabah, Gordonvale and Redlynch may be affected.

Rare tropical hail has been reported in the Edmonton as the BOM issued a severe thunderstorm warning. Picture: Douglas St John

Edmonton resident Lyn Hayles a short time ago reported an intense dumping of hail stones, some of which were the size of large marbles.

“I’m completely and utterly amazed, you don’t get hail in the tropics,” he said.

“I was speaking to an old friend and he said he has lived up here all his life and he has never seen hail here.

“Another friend said he was driving and had to stop the car because it was so bad and he could see the road.

“It was loud enough, when I initially heard it I said what the hell is that and I thought someone was banging on the roof.”

Significant sized hail stones fell in Edmonton. Picture: Claire Anais Guillier-Brady

Other Edmonton residents, including Kylie Shadbolt, said it was the worst storm she had experienced in some years.

“My dog knew about it two days ago, acting weird and digging holes,” she posted to social media.

The Bureau has urged residents to Park your car undercover away from trees and charge mobile devices in case the power goes out.

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Originally published as Rare hail event hits Cairns’ southern suburbs