People in the subtropical seaside town of Byron Bay could be forgiven for thinking they were in the snow fields last night after an intense hailstorm turned the streets white.
Ankle-deep drifts lined the streets of the CBD after the intense storm hit the town about 5pm.
Byron Bay resident Denise Nagorcka said a thunderstorm rolled in, then down came the hail.
Ms Nagorcka said the hail stayed on the ground about half an hour.
The storm centred on Byron Bay, extending to residential areas and the renowned surf beach The Pass at the base of Cape Byron.
Arakwal knowledge holder Delta Kay was running a cultural tour at The Pass when the storm hit.
"Fifteen people were hiding under the BBQ shelter, so heavy and loud the hail and rain," she posted on social media.
Uncommon hail event
The Bureau of Meteorology said the storm was an uncommon event.
Duty forecaster Jonathan How said it was a "quite impressive" thunderstorm that produced the hail, which was a result of two air masses meeting over Mullumbimby, to the north of Byron Bay.
Mr How said a trough off the Queensland coast brought some tropical moisture south, and generated a thunderstorm when it met with very cold air mass moving up from the south.
Mr How said the storm produced 32mm of rain and small hail.
He said thunderstorms were unusual in the region at this time of year, but last night's was a result of continued warm sea temperatures off the Queensland coast generating moist and warm air.
