Cleaning up after the hail storm were (from left) Elijah Miller, 4, Connor Scott, 4, and Heather Jeffcote from Little Lights Kindy on Mountain Rd. Photo / Ben Fraser
Cleaning up after the hail storm were (from left) Elijah Miller, 4, Connor Scott, 4, and Heather Jeffcote from Little Lights Kindy on Mountain Rd. Photo / Ben Fraser
Heavy rain and hail turned parts of Rotorua white yesterday and threatened to put a dampener on Guy Fawkes night.
But Rotorua fire station senior station manager Richard Anastasi says the celebrations would simply be delayed.
"If people have bought fireworks they will wait until the next fine night to set them off," he said.
Weather instability was behind the hail, which covered parts of the city, including Mountain Rd and Mt Ngongotaha yesterday afternoon, Springfield weather man Brian Holden said.
"Instability in the atmosphere is associated with thunderstorms, and as a result, you get hail. Water drops go up and up and then they freeze," he said.
Image 1 of 9: 051114bf13 Hailstorm on Mountain Road. Heather Jeffcote, left, and Elijah Miller, 4, 5 November 2014 Rotorua Daily Post Photograph by Ben Fraser
Image 1 of 12: Photos taken by reader Gillian Gillette.
Mr Holden recorded 18mm of rain after one of the heavy showers and said Guy Fawkes was notorious for rain.
"From 2007 until now, it has rained every Guy Fawkes night apart from 2012 when it was gloriously fine," he said.
Gillian Gillette was at her home on Mountain Rd when the hail began.
"It's about three to four inches deep on the lawn," she told the Rotorua Daily Post after the storm.
"I can't remember the last time we had a hail storm but it was probably nearly 18 months ago, that was a bad one, but this one is way worse."
Readers posted photos of the hail to the Rotorua Daily Post Facebook page, with many backyards and streets looking like they were covered in snow.
One commented she "could literally feel the coldness in the air" while another said Mt Ngongotaha was "white with hail".
Mr Anastasi said the fire station was not expecting a high number of call-outs last night because people were becoming more responsible on Guy Fawkes night.
"Over the last few years the incidents that result from fireworks are decreasing, which shows people are becoming more responsible. We try to encourage people to participate in organised fireworks displays.
"Basically be responsible. You need to have supervision for your kids and a clear area to set them off. Keep a bucket of sand or a garden hose on hand. Do not direct them [fireworks] at structures, people, animals or vegetation," he said.
