Picture this: hailstones the size of cricket balls belting down from the sky. Now imagine those icy chunks smashing into your place at speeds over 200km/h – faster than a Shane Warne leggie. Then stretch that chaos out for a bone-chilling five and a half hours straight, dumping half a million tonnes of ice while you’re just trying to survive the night.
Sound like a horror movie? Nah, mate – that’s exactly what went down in Sydney on 14 April 1999. At 7:45pm, our own Harbour City copped a hailstorm so savage it’d make Mother Nature blush. The aftermath? Pure carnage.
Tragically, one person lost their life, 85 suburbs were left battered, and the damage bill went bonkers: 70,000 cars written off, 24,000 houses with roofs, windows, and skylights smashed to bits. Streets looked like a demolition derby had rolled through. Still reckon hailstorms are just ‘a bit of rough weather’? Think again.
At the time, insured losses reached $1.7 billion. Adjusted for today’s costs, that equals approximately $8.85 billion – making it Australia’s most expensive natural disaster on record. To put this in context, the 2022 east coast floods caused insured losses of $6.12 billion, significantly less than the 1999 hailstorm’s impact.
What is hail and what causes it?
Hail is a form of solid precipitation that falls as ice pellets during thunderstorms. It forms when raindrops are pushed upward into the colder parts of the atmosphere. As they rise, the temperature drops below freezing, turning the raindrops into balls of ice. Once these ice balls grow too heavy for the updraft to hold, they fall to the ground at speeds of up to 200 kilometres per hour, often causing significant damage.
When and where do hailstorms occur?
Hail is most likely to occur during the warmer months, from October to February, when strong thunderstorms are more frequent. The east coast of Australia is particularly prone to hailstorms, though hail has been reported across most parts of the country. The exception is tropical regions, where hail is rare due to the consistently warm climate.
How often do they occur?
Historical data from the Insurance Council of Australia shows that between 1967 and July 2021, Australia experienced 32 severe hailstorms. In the first half of this period (1967 to 1993), there were 12 severe hailstorms, averaging about one every 2.3 years. In the second half (1994 to July 2021), this number increased to 20 severe hailstorms, or roughly one every 1.4 years – indicating that severe hailstorms have become more frequent in recent decades.
Research from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) suggests this trend is likely to continue. Australia is expected to face more frequent and severe hailstorms in the coming years, particularly in the southeast. UNSW found that the number of hail-prone days in Sydney and Perth has already risen by around 40 per cent annually.
What damage can hail cause?
Aside from posing a risk to life, hail can cause significant damage to homes, buildings, cars and infrastructure. Of course, not all hail causes harm, but when it does, it can be extensive and costly.
When it comes to homes (and rental properties certainly aren’t immune), damage from hailstorms can include:
- Cracked or shattered skylights.
- Shattered solar panels.
- Cracked and broken terracotta tile, slate and other non-metal material roofs.
- Dented or holey metal roofs.
- Cracked and smashed windows and glass doors.
- Water ingress from damaged roofs, skylights or windows leading to such risks like flooding and electrical issues.
- Blocked, dented or bent gutters and downpipes.
- Dented, chipped or cracked siding materials and wall cladding.
- Chipped or cracked exterior paintwork.
- Torn screens.
- Severe damage to outdoor structures such as pergolas, sheds, greenhouses and conservatories.
- Dents and damage to outdoor fixtures, such as light fixtures, air-conditioning units, satellite dishes, and fences.
- Significant damage in yards including to outdoor furniture and garden beds.
- Power outages.
How can you protect your rental from hailstorm damage?
To help protect your investment property (especially if located in hail-prone areas) consider:
- Having the roof periodically checked for cracks, leaks or porous tiles by a professional roofer.
- Repairing any roof damage.
- Installing roof sarking (protective layer under roof tiles).
- Reinforcing the roof with hail-resistant materials.
- Evaluating the age and condition of skylights and other roof fixtures and undertaking repairs where necessary.
- Installing skylight protectors.
- Installing protective coverings like hail guards or screens over windows, skylights, and other vulnerable areas.
- Protecting windows and glass doors with secure/storm shutters.
- Checking and repairing the window seals.
- Installing toughened glass windows.
- Keeping gutters and drainpipes free of debris.
- Installing larger, hail-designed gutters.
- Trimming overhanging trees.
- Enclosing carports.
- If it’s safe to do so, placing hail blankets over solar panels when a hail warning is announced.
- Securing outdoor structures and placing outdoor furniture under cover when a storm is forecast.
What to do if your rental is damaged by hail?
Safety should always come first. Once the storm has passed and it’s safe to take action, your next priority is to prevent further damage to the property – this is also a requirement of most insurance policies.
Since hail can break windows and damage roofs, it’s important to stop water from entering the property through any openings caused by the storm. Arrange for broken windows to be boarded up and any holes in the roof or skylights to be covered with waterproof tarps or similar materials. A quick reminder: never ask your tenants to handle repairs or tasks that could put their safety at risk, as you could be held responsible for any injuries they might sustain.
After a hailstorm, carefully inspect the property for damage, including the roof, exterior walls, and outdoor areas. If the damage is significant and you believe you need to make a claim, contact your insurance provider as soon as possible for advice on the next steps.
Is hailstorm damage covered by landlord insurance?
Most insurance providers classify hailstorms as natural disasters. Our landlord insurance policies include coverage for damage caused by natural disasters, including hail.
Other insurance policies typically cover hail damage as well, but this depends on the specific terms of the policy and whether the policyholder meets their obligations. This includes taking steps to prevent further damage after a storm and maintaining the property in good condition – for example, ensuring the roof is well-maintained. If the property hasn’t been properly looked after (such as having cracked or missing roof tiles), it could affect your claim. In some cases, the payout might be reduced, or the claim could even be denied.