Sunday, December 18, 2011

The Great Storm of 2011

Whyalla was pounded by a huge hailstorm at 8pm last night, cars wrecked all over the town, trees smashed and brought down, heavy flooding and the power went out. Just now the power was restored..22hrs later. I was lucky because my car was under cover but two of my daughters cars were extensively damaged.
My garden was smashed with the trees stripped of leaves and that nest which had a baby bird in it yesterday...empty today. (feelings of sadness sweep over me)
I took 8 min of video which I will process soon enough...


This car was at the end of my street, windows smashed, all the panels dented. Probably a write off.




Men never really grow up do they?





Our local mall, the Westlands was completely surrounded by a lake.... including inside


Some hailstones were as large as this, but most were golf ball sized.



.

12 comments:

Magsx2 said...

Hi Tempo,
OMG, what a huge storm, it's that time of year again. As long as nobody got hurt that is the main thing. These hail storms can do a lot of damage, and it's frightening because you feel so helpless, there is nothing you can do.

As you know we get a lot of storms here in Queensland, and they don't worry me, but when you see that patch of green, you know you are in for it. Then I start to worry.

I'm sorry your daughters car got hit, but I gather everyone is O.K.
Take care.

Pearl said...

Suddenly winter seems okay!

WOW. That's all I can say. I was caught once -- on a bridge!! -- in a storm that produced golf-ball-sized hail. I was absolutely frightened. But that was NOTHING compared to the hail you have pictured here. I'm surprised no one was hurt. Well, I HOPE no one was hurt...

Pearl

Symdaddy said...

And I was complainin' 'bout the hail we had (brussel sprout size)

Mind you, I'll bet they have bigger'n better hail stones in Texas!

Windsmoke. said...

No rain or hailstones in my neck of the woods yesterday, although Mildura copped a drenching and got flooded out :-).

Belle said...

Wow. I have never seen hail damage like that. Never seen a hailstone that large either. I'm sorry about your daughter's cars. I hope people's cars are covered by insurance, but I don't know if they cover hail.

mapstew said...

Nature can be such a bastard!
And even though we never get very good summers this side of the pond, we rarely get very bad winters either! Take care my friend. :¬)

Tempo said...

Hi Guys, we get storms, we get a bit of hail (pea sized) but nothing like this before. A mate of mine who works as a panel beater said they had one company order 20 windscreens for their fleet and 32 ordered for the day. Many cars will be written off, I'm told most were the victims of loopholes which give the insurance companies an out. My brand new shed roof is covered in small dents but my car and bike are both fine so I consider myself very well off compared to many others.
There are no recorded bad injuries but many were pelted by hail and bruised.
Thanks for your best wishes.

Sarah said...

Grrr bastardly insurance companies!

I hope your boat was in your new shed! I'd have to cry a little if it got damaged so soon after you finished it.

Tempo said...

I was very lucky Sarah, my car, bike and boat were all safely locked up in the shed, I have no broken windows and there are just some dents in the new shed and some trees and shrubs damaged in the garden. Probably the saddest thing was that tiny bird I'd been watching grow in that nest (a few posts back) is gone, I found the nest smashed and full of ice shortly after the storm...

Cal's Canadian Cave of Coolness said...

That is insane. Those chunks could kill a person. You guys are getting the crap kicked out of you this year, weather wise. Keep your head down and keep protective headgear within reach.

Tempo said...

Thanks Cal, I've lived here a long time and never seen hail like this before (though once in New Zealand) I expect you're right, they look lethal and the damage they did was amazing.

SHARON ANDERSON said...

I WOULD LIKE THE PHOTO OF MY HUSBAND REMOVED.... YOU DO NOT HAVE PERMISSION TO USE IT. IT IS A VIOLATION OF PRIVACY.