Giant hailstones hit Arctic Finland

Yle News
Posted: Monday, July 28, 2014 at 13:35 — Last Updated: Friday, March 16, 2018 at 09:33
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Two of the giant golf ball-sized hailstones that fell on the northern city of Rovaniemi on Saturday. (Juha Mäntykenttä / Yle)

The ground was completely covered by the large hailstones. (Juha Mäntykenttä / Yle)

Heavy rain caused the ground to erode in some residents’ gardens. (Juha Mäntykenttä / Yle)

Hailstones the size of golf balls fell on the city of Rovaniemi in Finland’s Arctic Lapland province on Saturday evening for 10-15 minutes as part of a violent but brief thunderstorm.

The hot sun continued to shine down on the northern city of Rovaniemi on Saturday, interrupted only by a short but severe thunderstorm that rained hailstones the size of golf balls down on the city.

People that witnessed the deluge report that the hailstorm lasted for between ten and fifteen minutes, accompanied by torrential winds that caused the rain to fall horizontally at times.

Rescue services in the area say no damages from the hail have yet to be reported, but estimates that “Some people’s flower beds may be the worse for wear…”