WHILE most of Mildura avoided the brunt of Thursday night's hailstorm, wind gusts of almost 80km/h gusts caused havoc.

The Millewa was not so lucky, with large hailstones destroying crops as heavy rain and winds lashed farming areas including Werrimull and Bambill.

Farmer James O'Day lost thousands of acres of grain just three weeks from harvest at his Merrinee North property.

"I was watching t...