By Dan Parker
Flights into Wellington were delayed this afternoon by a brief but violent thunder storm which pelted the capital with hailstones – some, the size of marbles.
The MetService says it was a once in a decade event, which saw the temperature drop 8degC in a few minutes.
Wellingtonians were sent scrambling for cover as the vicious hail storm caught many off guard and under-dressed.
But others, like tourist Reg Hammond, were out embracing it and adding another special memory to an already enjoyable World Cup holiday.
“We went to watch the ‘Boks train today and it was like four seasons in once day that we have experienced,” he told 3 News.
The hail was created by an extraordinary 30 minute period which saw the temperature plummet to just 4degC.
Following two traffic accidents Police asked drivers to slow down.
Nine flights into the capital had to be delayed as the brief but violent thunder storms passed through.
“It’s what we call an upper level short wave in the atmosphere,” says Daniel Corbett of the MetService.
“Think of it like a piece of energy as it squeezes the clouds. Squeezes out the moisture and, in this case, developed quite a thunder storm that was so intense it was actually able to develop this hail.”
The hail was about the size of a small marble, but as quick as it came it was gone. The MetService says hail like this hasn’t fallen in close to a decade.
3 News