Rose Harding
Hailstorms have trashed at least one orchard and damaged apples and stonefruit around Hawke's Bay.
The hail struck in the Pakowhai, Meeanee Road and Brookfields area about 3am today and at least one grower, who did not want to be named, said it was the worst he had seen.
"My plums and apples are knackered," the grower said. Dave Mackie, in Franklin Road, emptied 80mm out of his rain gauge this morning.
He said there was some damage to his royal gala and braeburn apples and stonefruit but the storms had been too early to harm the kiwifruit.
Neighbour John Burton said it would be three or four days before the extent of the damage was known. "I've never had hail on stonefruit before so I don't know what to expect."
Porangahau farmer James Hunter had recorded 32mm by 8am today and it was still "raining cats and dogs". The flats around him were partly covered by surface water.
He was in the middle of shearing hoggets and was out early this morning putting the shorn ones back in the shed.
Richard Harding, of Waipukurau, emptied 44.9mm out at 8am. He said the rain started at 5pm yesterday with a light hailstorm and it was still pouring this morning.
Omakere farmer Kris August was philosophical. "We never grizzle about rain in October."
Hail takes heavy toll on H Bay orchards
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