Hailstorms in Australia 2025–2026: Guide to Formation, Risks Preparation

Things can quickly change in Australia's weather. When one minute the sky may be blue, the next, a hailstorm may be raining down on roofs and cracking car windscreens. Simply put, Australia's hail season can suddenly turn deadly. From spring to all through the summer, powerful thunderstorms build fast across the Australian continent.

In 2024 and 2025, Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne all experienced powerful storms that left suburbs filled with debris, vehicles damaged to the point of being written off, and homes left without power for hours and sometimes days.

In this post, we will find out what really happens inside a hailstorm, why Australia experiences so much hail, and which parts of Australia experience the most hailstorms. We will also learn how hail is measured, what the different-sized stones mean as far as damage potential goes.

Let's dive in!

How Hailstorms Form – The Science Explained

Hailstorms start forming inside cumulonimbus clouds. These are the largest and most dangerous thunderstorm clouds in the Earth's atmosphere and can be more than 10 kilometres high and contain huge amounts of moisture and fast-changing temperatures. The process by which hail is created takes place in distinct stages.

First off, warm, moist air that is near the ground rises fast as a result of atmospheric instability. Inside the storm, there are strong updrafts, which can sometimes exceed 160 km/h. These updrafts then push the water droplets above the cloud's freezing level. At such high altitudes, temperatures will be well below zero. However, the droplets will still be in liquid form. These are called supercooled droplets.

Now to the next stage! When a supercooled droplet collides with a small ice particle, it instantly freezes, which results in an ice embryo. And as this embryo rises upward and downward as a result of the storm's powerful air currents, there will be even more supercooled droplets that will freeze onto it. Each cycle will then continue to add a new layer of ice similar to the rings of an onion, and the longer the updraft lasts and the stronger it is, the larger the hailstone will grow.

Finally, there will come a time when the hailstone gets too heavy for the updraft to support, and gravity takes over. The stone then falls toward the ground at extremely high speed and will often be accompanied by heavy rain, lightning, and damaging winds. The larger hailstones can reach speeds of more than 100 km/h, making them extremely dangerous.

Therefore, several conditions must come together for hail to form:

• High atmospheric instability to ensure rising air

• Abundant moisture causes the ice layers to grow

• Strong wind shear, which keeps storms lasting long

Australia is especially prone to hailstorms due to its subtropical heat near the surface, which then collides with cold upper-level air during the spring and summer months. It is these temperature differences that cause storms to develop and grow, as well as causing them to last longer and create large hailstones that have the potential to damage homes, vehicles, crops, and power infrastructure across the country.

Hail Sizes, Records & Australian Extremes

Hailstones come in different sizes. Meteorologists will often classify hail by comparing the stones to everyday objects, which helps make it easier for residents to imagine the potential risks and dangers involved.

On one hand, hail the size of a pea, which is around 1 cm in diameter, will likely cause minimal damage. However, it could still be strong enough to strip plants of their leaves and cause dents in soft materials.

Then there is hail the size of a Mothball and this has the power to crack brittle surfaces. But once the hail gets to the size of a golf ball, about 4–5 cm in diameter, then the potential for damage rapidly increases. At this size, the hail is now large enough to break car windscreens, damage solar panels, and tear through sheet roofing.

Hail the size of a Tennis-ball at 7 cm or larger, is extremely destructive and has enough force to tear through roofs, and even cause serious injury to people and animals that didn't find shelter.

The Australian continent experiences some of the most powerful hailstorms anywhere in the world. In 2014, for instance, Brisbane saw hailstones that measured up to 9 cm in diameter and resulted in huge insurance losses.

Among the largest hailstones ever reported anywhere around the world was one around 16 cm, which occurred in Yalboroo, QLD, in 2021. And even more recently, there has been hail that is larger than 8 cm experienced during several storms in 2024.

A stark example is the November 24, 2025, storm in Brisbane and south-east Queensland, where hailstones reached 14 cm—among the largest in years. This brief but intense supercell caused catastrophic damage: smashed vehicles, cracked solar panels, and destroyed roofs, and left over 160,000 homes without power at peak (with prolonged outages for many). It highlights the exponential destruction from giant hail and the need for rapid response.

Note, however, that the relationship between the size of hail and the potential damage is not linear but exponential. This means that doubling the diameter of a hailstone will result in an increase in its impact energy by several times.

Researchers have also found exceptionally large hailstones that exceed 10 cm, known as megacryometeors. While these are rare, they are being observed more often, especially with the increase in atmospheric instability, which then raises concerns that Australia's hailstorms may become even more dangerous in the coming years.

Australia's Hail Hotspots & Season

That said, keep in mind that Hailstorms are not evenly distributed across Australia, and some regions experience more frequent hail events than others. This is due to differences in geography, climate, and atmospheric instability. Meteorologists will often refer to the high-risk areas as "Hail Alley".

Among such regions, there is one that stands out above the rest – South-East Queensland, and in particular, Brisbane, Ipswich, and the Gold Coast. The Warm, humid air that rises from the Coral Sea often collides with the colder upper-level air, which subsequently results in ideal conditions for the powerful hailstorms.

What's more, the Sydney Basin and Hunter Valley also experience powerful hailstorms, as the basin's topography often traps both heat and moisture, which helps powerful thunderstorms to grow rapidly. Melbourne often sees severe hail as the cold air from the Southern Ocean collides with the inland heat.

Hail season usually starts from September and runs through to February, which so happens to be the warmer months in Australia. During this period, the strongest storms tend to develop, especially during times when heatwaves are soon followed by cold temperatures. October to December is considered a high-risk period, and during this time, the surface temperatures rise while upper-atmosphere conditions remain cool and unstable.

Also, Climate change is influencing the behaviour of hailstorms in such regions, as the increasing surface temperatures continue to add more energy to the storm systems. This results in hailstones growing larger than before. While frequency may vary, models project larger hail more often in eastern capitals.

Furthermore, Research shows that while the frequency of hail may not increase everywhere, there is a rise in hail size and intensity of damage caused, especially in South-East Queensland, as well as New South Wales.

As Australia's climate continues to warm, the communities residing in hotspot areas continue to face even more destructive hail seasons, which makes it important to be prepared through setting up more resilient infrastructure and emergency planning.

Damage & Danger – What Hail Actually Destroys

Hailstorms are one of Australia's most destructive natural hazards, as they have the potential to cause immediate damage to things like vehicles, homes, infrastructure, and agriculture and even pose a hazard to human safety. Unlike other natural hazards like floods or bushfires, hail damage often takes place in minutes, leaving people with little time to react.

And Vehicles are often hit first during a hailstorm. Hail the size of golf balls will easily put a dent in the car's body panels, break windscreens, destroy vehicle headlights, and even result in the car being written off entirely.

Even the newer vehicles that come with more advanced safety glass are still not safe. Insurance data shows that the average hail-related vehicle claim can be anywhere from $8,000 to $15,000, and keep in mind that the luxury and electric vehicles can often exceed that, owing to high prices and repairs.

Homes will also experience expensive repairs, and with the Solar panels being particularly exposed, larger hailstones can crack the glass and damage cells, rendering the solar systems unsafe to use.

What's more, the Roof tiles can be cracked or even completely shattered. Metal roofing may also be pierced or deeply dented, not to mention the Gutters getting destroyed. And that's not all! Skylights and pergolas can also experience severe damage and often explode inward during impact, which will result in costly repairs.

Agriculture will also be affected, resulting in great devastation from a single storm, with Crops such as stone fruit, grapes, and vegetables being completely damaged within minutes. And the Vineyards and orchards located in regions prone to hail will often rely on netting for protection. Still, the more severe storms can easily get through such defences.

There is also the issue of Infrastructure damage whose effects and impact go beyond the storm itself. Power lines as well as substations often experience severe damage, which can lead to widespread blackouts that can last hours and sometimes even days. Not to mention that a hailstorm can result in Mobile networks failing and thus, cutting communication when it's needed the most.

Furthermore, Hailstorms can also pose a serious risk to life, as hail the size of golf balls can fracture skulls or cause internal injuries and result in the death of exposed humans and wildlife. People who are caught outdoors, including motorists or pedestrians, can face extreme danger during severe hailstorms if they don't take immediate cover.

All this can result in huge financial losses. For instance, the 1999 Sydney hailstorm is Australia's costliest natural disaster, which resulted in losses of over $1.7 billion in insured losses (around $5.6 billion in today's money).

Preparation & Protection Strategies

The most effective way to help reduce damage from hailstorms is through preparedness. Granted, hailstorms can occur suddenly, but you can still minimise the impact by ensuring you have put in place certain protective measures.

Before the hail season comes, homeowners need to find the vulnerable sections of their property and invest in impact-resistant roofing materials or install hail-rated tiles to reduce roof damage. Consider getting Skylight covers or external guards to help prevent shattering, as well as solar panel hail guards to reduce the risk of panel damage during severe storms. Also Clearing the gutters before springtime will also limit water ingress after a hailstorm.

Furthermore, it's important to consider vehicle protection, as cars are often the first victims of hailstorms. Ensure you Park the car in the garage or even an undercover area to ensure the best protection.

If this is not possible, consider getting a hail blanket or padded car cover. These can significantly reduce panel as well as windscreen damage. Getting Comprehensive insurance that has a low excess for storm damage is a good idea, especially if you live in hail-prone regions.

Ensure that you monitor the weather conditions to access valuable lead time. Use Apps such as the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) and Weatherzone, as well as using real-time storm tracking services like Higgins Storm Chasing. These will issue alerts that will enable you to move your vehicle, keep outdoor furniture safe, and shelter safely before storms strike.

And every household that is in hail-prone areas needs to maintain a basic emergency kit containing Essentials such as drinking water, non-perishable food, a first-aid kit, a torch, spare batteries, as well as a battery-powered radio. Such items will prove critical when hailstorms damage power lines and result in widespread outages during which access to services is disrupted.

One of the most overlooked preparation steps is having backup power. Hailstorms often cause damage to power lines and substations, which then leads to blackouts that can last multiple days. Without the backup power, the fridges fail, mobile devices go off, and communication becomes extremely difficult.

A Portable power station offers you a practical solution. The BLUETTI Elite 200 V2, with its 2600W output and up to 2073.6W capacity, can help power the fridge, lights, and Wi-Fi router and keep smartphones running for 2–4 days, all while providing sufficient power for appliances such as the microwave, heater, and other essential medical devices.

If you live in an apartment or a smaller home, the BLUETTI Elite 100 V2 offers you 1800W output and 1024Wh capacity and is a lightweight, highly portable power backup option.

And by pairing both these portable power stations with portable solar panels, you can extend the runtime during those prolonged outages by allowing yourself to recharge during the day.

During & After the Storm – Safety Checklist

Whenever there's a hailstorm, your own safety must always come first. Ensure that you stay indoors and always stay away from windows, skylights, and glass doors since these can pose a great risk from shattering under impact. Even better Move to an interior room whenever possible and close curtains or blinds for extra protection.

When you are caught outside, immediately offer protection to your head and your neck with anything you can find, including bags, clothing, or your arms. Then quickly find solid shelter. Also, ensure that your Pets are brought inside early, as animals are extremely vulnerable to hailstorm injuries and panic during those severe storms.

If you find yourself driving during a hailstorm, slow down immediately and pull over safely as soon as you get the chance. Do not park under trees or power lines, and always remain inside the vehicle and stay away from the windows.

Cover your head with your arms to reduce the risk of getting injured in case the glass shatters. Keeping in mind that driving through a hailstorm significantly increases the chance of vehicle damage and accidents and vehicle damage. Waiting for the storm to pass is often the safest option.

But even after the storm, there are still some hazards remaining. Always check carefully for any damaged power lines, exposed or grounded electrical wires, or a gas smell.

Avoid walking close to fallen lines, and immediately make a report to the authorities. Remember also to inspect the roofs, the solar panels, and the gutters, as well as the skylights, from the ground, and avoid climbing onto any damaged structures until a professional has assessed the safety.

It is a good idea to document all damage immediately for insurance purposes. Ensure you've taken photos and videos of your vehicle, roof, fencing, and any internal damage before you make any temporary repairs. If your roof experiences damage, make use of temporary tarps to limit water from getting inside until you can get permanent repairs done. Also Stay alert for delayed outages, as damage to infrastructure may fail hours after the storm passes.

Conclusion

Hailstorms in Australia are fast, destructive, and result in costly damage. They can easily turn an otherwise calm sky into chaos within a matter of minutes, from damaging vehicles to shattering solar panels to causing blackouts.