Saturday, August 29, 2009

Hail Merry

Wasn't It Sunny A Few Minutes Ago?

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON


On Wednesday evening it was bright and sunny at 4pm - but things had changed drastically in just over an hour, as you can see from this photograph.

They weren't kidding when a wild weather warning was issued for Melbourne that afternoon. I had had just exited off the freeway when the sleet turned to a fierce hailstorm.

This was shot a few seconds after I parked in my driveway, just as dusk turned to night.

Yes, I live in a city with hugely fluctuating weather. On Christmas Day 2006, it was several degrees colder in Melbourne than it was in London or New York - and December is our summer!

And a few years ago, we had snow on Christmas Day, while Victoria was battling bushfires!

Visit TNChick's Photo Hunt. Today's theme: "Surprise''.

29 comments:

Willow said...

Whoa--that's crazy. And the photo says it all.

imac said...

Crazy weather - these days David.
Love that shot brill capture.

Carol Murdock said...

David...I think everyone is having crazy weather this year!I'll guess that the hail storm was pretty scary?

susan said...

I've always heard "If you don't like the weather, just wait few minutes", but have seen nothing quite like this!

Maria-Thérèse ~ www.afiori.com said...

INCREDIBLY beautiful photograph!
Hail - that's craaazy. Doesn't even happen in Sweden, not like that.

♥ maria-thérèse www.afiori.com

Miranda said...

It's always a surprise when that happens. Luckily for you, it is 'winter' down there. We get snow occasionally in July or August, and its our summer.

I think the whole world weather is messed up.

James said...

Melbourne weather isn't boring.

clairedulalune said...

Th weather is strange David. it has been sunshine, rain, sunshine, rain, I cant keep up!

Jientje said...

I thought you always had good weather where you are! We have been blessed with a very good Summer this year, but it isn't always like that!

Akelamalu said...

I really think there's something in this Global Warming. Yesterday was sunny and warm, today it has been sunny and warm one minute and torrential rain the next! :0

Maggie May said...

What is it with the weather? Strange things happening. Global warming maybe.
Made a lovely picture though.

ArneA said...

The Australian winter is almost over, with spring only a few days away. Our days are already noticeably longer - and the frosts have receded. It's been a while since we had ice, too.
You never know what will happen tomorrow.
Live your life every day.
Living is wonderful and Life is Great

Ladybird World Mother said...

Its a mad mad mad mad world... or whatever that film was all those years ago... love the picture1

Heidi said...

Weather is really fun isn't it. I hope you weren't wearing shorts on wednesday!
If you'd like to stop by my blog I'm at Cake Crumbs.

Rudee said...

Ahhh. The Mother Nature smackdown. The problem here is that you got cheeky with your photos of new growth and the promise of spring. Perhaps if you don't speak of it, the weather will change for the better.

Joanna Jenkins said...

The photo caught my eye on my BlogRoll. I stared at it in its small size trying to figure out what it was, like when you get a letter and you don't know who it's from, but you keep looking at the outside of the envelope instead of just opening it. What a great surprise when I finally opened your post and saw the snow-- On a day when it's 107 degrees here in Los Angeles.

Great shot! Glad you made it home safe in the storm.

Mojo said...

Great entry!

Just the fact that you've got snow there when it's near 90°F here is a little jarring to me. We get some pretty wild swings in weather here too, and in fact I've seen us go from 7 inches of snow to sunny and 70 to 12 inches of snow in the space between consecutive Fridays on one occasion that I can recall. It was years ago, but I remember the sine curve in the pattern. Weird!

Unknown said...

Wow is right. That kind of fluctuation must be interesting though. And I love the photo!

Anonymous said...

It's getting very strange around the world. We too, are experiencing bizarre weather conditions.

CJ xx

Anonymous said...

I am SOOO NOT looking forward to the winter this yeat. But it seems to moving in. Already been pretty chilling in the Hoosier state!

Louise said...

One would think you lived in the midwestern US!

Thanks for the POTD mention. I was stunned to see it since I've been so behind and sporadic! Truly, truly appreciated!

Hilary said...

When I first saw the photo, I thought it was soap suds on your car.. and that it was going through the car wash. Then I thought about where you'd have to be standing to get such a shot. That just couldn't work. :)

Madame DeFarge said...

Certainly seems weird. I've given up trying to work out what season we're in. It's all just weather.

Corey~living and loving said...

I can totally relate to this. we experienced something like this just today. from bright sun....to big time RAIN!

gengen said...

David that surprising really because in our place its hot like a fire...Happy weekend mine is up too.

MJ said...

Hi there- yes sure has been crazy alright!!

Carin said...

Glad that surprise doesn't await us over here! Brrrrr
Over here in Holland we are having a great summer with lovely weather. Weather forecast says we still have some sunny days to come! Yeah!
Enjoy your weekend!

Jay said...

Wild weather indeed!! Wow ... but I love the photo! I couldn't work out what it was at first - I thought it was looking down into a river with a little weir or something .. but it's your CAR!! LOL!

Lee said...

Amazing! How on earth can you have freezing temperatures in the middle of summer? I'd like to read te weather scientists explanation for that one.

Great shot, David!

Cheers!