Hailstorm caused almost $1m damage a minute

FLEUR ROBINSON

LITTLE WRECKING BALL: Joel Robinson, 5, shows sister Faith, 4, a hailstone in Ashburton.

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A hailstorm which battered Ashburton last November caused almost $1 million damage for every minute it lasted.

The newly released Natural Hazards Centre annual review said that five major storms ended in record amounts of property damage in 2008.

As well as the 15-minute hailstorm that cost about $12m, the two winter storms in July also set a record for the largest number of insurance claims lodged in a single month, with 23,755 claims costing insurers $72m.

The total cost of the five significant events in the year is estimated to be about $86m with the full extent of the Ashburton hailstorm, on November 17, yet to be counted.

National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research snow and ice scientist Dr Jordy Hendrikx said the effects of climate change meant the risk of extreme weather events was increasing.

"We're sure that we're seeing climate change," he said.

"If our understanding is correct then over time we expect to see a general increase in terms of extreme weather events."

The predicted sea-level rise is expected to cause more frequent and serious flooding of low-lying coastal areas by extreme high tides, storm surges and waves.

The Insurance Council has said that climate change and weather-related disasters are now probably the most significant cost facing the insurance industry and premiums are almost certain to rise as a consequence.

"Hail is quite a significant natural hazard," Hendrikx said. "If it comes at the wrong time, in terms of crops, it can be very devastating."

Hendrikx said hailstorms, like the one in Ashburton and recently in Papamoa, generally affected small areas and were over very quickly.

There were two storms in July, both affecting most of the North Island with the second also resulting in a state of emergency being declared in Marlborough due to extensive flooding.

Along with the hailstorm, the other two most costly weather events were the August flooding in North Canterbury and Marlborough and a tornado that hit Cambridge in October. The number and cost of weather-related events were down on 2007 when insurers paid out $97m for seven large events.

The Earthquake Commission received nearly 9000 claims compared with 6519 the year before.

Waikato recorded its worst summer drought on record with just 4.2mm of rain in January compared with an average of 85mm. The three most costly events in the past 40 years were the 1968 Wahine storm ($200m), the 1987 Bay of Plenty earthquake ($357m) and the 2004 Manawatu floods ($112m).