We’ve been having some really unusual weather the past week or so. Here, it’s rained heavily—we’ve had twice our annual rainfall for November and most has fallen in the past week. Huge drops, and big heavy gushing downpours. Good for the dams as we come into summer… not so good for the farmers who are in the middle of the grain harvest right now.
Yesterday, over near Salmon Gums, they got massive hail and ice and it flattened the crops. Now to put this into perspective, it’s late November here. It’s getting hot (usually). Salmon Gums’ average maximum temperature from 1932 to 2008 throughout November is 26C (about 75F), and their average minimum is around 10C (http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_012071.shtml)
So, here’s what happened near Salmon Gums yesterday (photos courtesy of my friend Bobbie’s chiropractor!):
Highway, Coolgardie to Esperance, 26 Nov 2008
Highway, Coolgardie to Esperance, 26 Nov 2008
So we opened the gate...
I guess if you don't laugh, you'd cry — drought, now this...
Hailstones the size of small eggs
Ah, weather. I’m flying to Brisbane next week, and will be visiting family affected by the storms. I’m just hoping we have civilised conditions for the landing. A couple of years ago we landed in Hobart in 150kph cross winds, which was a little unpleasant.