Rare hailstorm blankets Ripiro Beach, Northland, New Zealand

A highly localized hailstorm transformed a section of Ripiro Beach in Northland, New Zealand, into an icy landscape on August 23. The event occurred at approximately 17:00 LT as two fishermen returned from Kaipara Harbour and encountered the accumulation north of Pouto Point Lighthouse.

Eyewitness David Bishop from Kerikeri said the scene resembled a “winter wonderland,” with hail stretching from the waterline into the dunes. In some places, the accumulation reached about 5 cm (2 inches) in depth. The coverage was confined to a narrow zone, with no hail observed around the lighthouse or further north along the 110 km (68 miles) beach.

MetService meteorologist Silvia Martino explained that while their monitoring systems did not directly detect hail, narrow lines of heavy showers were moving across Northland, Auckland, Bay of Plenty, and Rotorua at the time. Such localized storm bands can produce significant hail accumulation where they pass.

She noted that more than 1 800 lightning strikes were recorded offshore in the 12 hours leading up to 10:00 LT on August 24, indicating unstable atmospheric conditions. The combination of cold air aloft and relatively warm ground and sea temperatures likely contributed to hail formation.

Ripiro Beach, the longest drivable beach in New Zealand, occasionally experiences extreme weather. In January 2025, a tornado struck Mangawhai, and in August 2011, snow fell on farmland near Tutamoe, Northland’s second-highest peak. However, the accumulation of hail along a coastal stretch remains an exceptionally rare phenomenon.

Earlier in the same week, a severe hailstorm blanketed parts of the Bay of Plenty as well.

References:

¹ Freak storm coats Northland beach in hail – RNZ – August 24, 2025

Reet Kaur

I’m a science journalist and researcher at The Watchers, contributing to the Epicenter edition, where I cover peer-reviewed scientific research and emerging discoveries across Earth and space sciences. With a background in astronomy and a passion for environmental science, I’ve worked in shark and coral conservation in Fiji, conducting reef and shark-behavior research, contributing to mangrove restoration, and earning PADI Open Water and Coral Reef Certifications. I bring a blend of scientific rigor and storytelling to illuminate the discoveries shaping our planet and beyond.

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