On Christmas Day, 2011 I was starting the return drive from Melbourne to Sydney after lunch. Early into the drive there was heavy rain from a large storm cell. After driving through this for a short time, the raindrops appeared to be getting heavier.. so I thought. I realised very quickly that it was actually large hail stones.
I was just passing a small Shopping Centre so pulled in to seek refuge. Seeing large hail hitting my windscreen and thumping on the roof. Unfortunately the only shelter was the small awning around the centre, and many others had already made it under the shelter. I drove around the centre until I found one last spot.
Once under the shelter I took a few photos, while hail stones ricocheted around us. I picked these hail stones up off the ground – they’d started to melt but were still marble sized. I couldn’t see it at the time, but the minute or so I had taken to get under shelter was enough time for almost every panel on my car to suffer dozens of small dents.
After a short time the hail ceased as the storm cell moved South-East toward Melbourne City. Driving North there was still heavy cloud moving over head, but stunning blue sky peeking through.
There was a clear edge to the rain band. (Looking East toward Tullamarine)
As I made it further north, the tempature picked up and the sky opened to a beautiful Summers afternoon. Looking south back to Melbourne from the Clarkefield area it was clear the City was still receiving attention from the storm.
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