Pete 
Hail storm leaves trail of damage across north
The Nation February 5, 2013 1:00 am
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/nationa ... 99352.html
Roofs were punctured, cars dented and flower gardens ruined across the North in a severe hailstorm on Sunday.
With the ice chunks turning some areas into scenes resembling snow-covered fields, Thai netizens turned to social media to share photos and video clips of the phenomenon.
Tangerine-sized hailstones damaged properties in Chiang Mai's Wiang Haeng, Mae On and San Kamphaeng districts.
Chiang Mai Disaster Prevention and Mitigation official Khomsan Suwan-ampa said authorities fanned out yesterday to inspect the damage and roof tiles were sent to repair 200 affected homes in Wiang Haeng district.
Chiang Mai city's annual winter flower festival plantation was ruined, with the tulip patch hard hit, Khomsan said, adding it was the worst hailstorm in 50 years.
In Lamphun, the hail caused Bt100 million in damage at the orchid tissue culture centre, a project of HRH Princess Chulabhorn Valayalaksana. The storm also damaged 1,000 homes.
In Lampang's Serm Ngam district, hours of heavy rain followed by the 30-minute hailstorm caused a blackout in Tambon Serm Sai. The roofs of 800 homes were damaged and cars were dented.
Resident Sonthaya Inkaew, 41, said the roof of his grocery shop and home were punctured, forcing his family to temporarily sleep in their pick-up truck.
There were no reports of injuries.
