Parts of the district welcomed the first summer storm of the 2021/22 season with a blanketing of hail.
A warm Friday preceded the arrival of the hailstorm in the afternoon with Glendon, Lower Belford, Jerrys Plains and areas in the Upper Hunter on the receiving end of a sustained downpour.
Typical of such weather systems the temperature dropped substantially during the storm providing an eerie scene once the sun returned with steam rising off the ground.
Although the storm lasted for some minutes and the hail created a frozen carpet on the ground damage was limited due to the fact the hailstones were more pellet sized than the nasty golf ball ones.
The rainfall was most appreciated after a dry September with falls during the past week ranging from 30mm at Bulga to 22mm at Broke, Lower Belford 28mm, Elderslie 21, Bowmans Creek 12 and Mirannie 11mm.
In the Upper Hunter there were falls around the district of 25mm with reports of some canola crop damage at Merriwa/Cassilis.
Louise Nichols
From cattle to coal. Once a specialist agriculture writer today its about community, in particular, the Upper Hunter. I have lived and worked in the region for more than 30 years. Land use issues and the future direction of our region. But you cannot take ag out of the picture - our food and how we grow it is the basis of all life. Covering the Hunter and Mid North Coast rural issues is now part of my role with ACM.
From cattle to coal. Once a specialist agriculture writer today its about community, in particular, the Upper Hunter. I have lived and worked in the region for more than 30 years. Land use issues and the future direction of our region. But you cannot take ag out of the picture - our food and how we grow it is the basis of all life. Covering the Hunter and Mid North Coast rural issues is now part of my role with ACM.
