Small pellets of ice could be seen raining down on a village in the tropical country of the Philippines.

Footage shows the kernel-sized ice pounding on a roof during an unseasonal hailstorm in Sultan Kudarat province on August 20.

The afternoon hailstorm was preceded by hot and sunny weather so residents were baffled how there was ice in the downpour that followed.

Resident Gypsy Mae Jane Ojas said: ‘It was cold when the rain fell. It was the first time I’ve seen hailstorms all my life. It was very hot weather that day and it suddenly rained heavily with ice.’

The local risk reduction and management office said the storm came and left quickly, but left floods, toppled trees, and damaged vehicles afterwards.

The Philippines and other countries in Southeast Asia such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand are in the middle of their tropical monsoon rainy season, which lasts until October or November. Soaring temperatures reaching 35 degrees Celsius are often followed by powerful tropical storms with thunder, lightning, rain and flash floods.