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‘Gorilla’ Hail Struck Texas And Oklahoma Last Night, And This Is How It Looked (30 Pics)
Residents in Texas and Oklahoma were recovering Thursday after 4-inch hailstones bombed parts of the states a day earlier, leaving behind damaged cars and homes.
A 1-inch hail is enough to cause harm, but these were the size of a softball.
There were at least 38 reports of severe hail, including near San Antonio, Fort Worth, and Oklahoma City, according to the Storm Prediction Center.
"The hail damage yesterday could become yet another billion-dollar weather disaster for the US," CNN's senior meteorologist Dave Hennen said.
"This could be the second billion-dollar disaster this year in Texas, after the extreme Arctic outbreak back in February."
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"We were in an interior closet with our children. It was eerily still outside and then we heard a loud noise and the house shook a bit with the first big hailstone," Rebecca Gilliam, a resident of Hondo, Texas, told CNN.
Gilliam said the hail was so big and had so much force that it came through the roof in many areas and even sheet rock on interior walls in a few places.
"Many times, the storms impact more rural areas in this part of the country, but in this case, the largest hail targeted large populated areas like San Antonio, Forth Worth, and Oklahoma City, so more property was damaged," Hennen explained.
Another severe thunderstorm produced significant hail in and around the Norman, Oklahoma area. Marek Cornett is one of the people whose property it had attacked—her rental home got hit really bad. "This storm was a very small one but very intense," Cornett told Bored Panda. "There were 70-80 mph winds which is why the gigantic hail was essentially thrown through the windows. The entire city of Norman (3rd largest city in Oklahoma) is dealing with the ramifications right now. Windows, roofs, cars all have damage."
Cornett the area has at least 4-5 severe weather storms a year, and most often they include tornados. "This one was just an intense hail storm with wind."
The weather unfolding over the Plains on Wednesday was “nearly the perfect setup for severe storms with hail,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Bill Deger said.
“There was plenty of energy in the atmosphere, 'fuel' from sunshine, warm conditions, and moisture flowing in from the Gulf of Mexico,” Deger explained. “The end result was very large, damaging hailstones in Texas and Oklahoma.”
“It’s not a surprising event to get big hail storms this time of the year across Texas and Oklahoma," he added, "but what was remarkable about it was that we had the intersection of big hail storms in areas where there are a lot of people and businesses."
Hail makes up the highest number of insurance claims each year and can exceed $10 billion in losses annually, the Weather Channel reported.
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Aftermath of 8” average hail size in Hondo Texas last night, yes that’s daylight shining thru the roof shingles and plywood
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Easily Excitable Panda 3 years ago
I've spent many a tornado night hiding the bath. Good for you for taking care of yourself and your kid!
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JonaLou2U 3 years ago
The worst thing about this storm was that there was no warning- it wasn't even raining. All of the sudden we heard the wind (75-80 mph) We assumed it was a tornado and went for cover, but ten seconds later it sounded like bombs going off everywhere. Tennis ball size hail hitting our roof, fence, and cars. With such high winds, the hail came at you sideways- Cars and houses can be repaired, thankfully family and pets are all safe and sound across Norman.
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Easily Excitable Panda 3 years ago (edited)
The fact that they even have pre-printed rulers should tell you about the kind of hail we get in Texas and Oklahoma.
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What do you think ?
Steve Barnett 3 years ago
“The Ice Company had to rethink their free-sample-for-everyone campaign in Texas due to a mostly negative response”
Cupcake168 3 years ago
But climate change doesn’t exist. Anyway, I feel sorry fore everybody affected or harmed.
Jerry Mathers 3 years ago
Hey don't mess with Texas! It isn't nice to pick on morons! ;-)
Load More Replies...
Night Shade 3 years ago
I'm surprised that there were no causualties because that hail is lethal.
JennyLaRue 3 years ago
I'll stop complaining about the hail storm I just got caught in - those pea sized pellets were nothing compared to these monsters!
Sivi 3 years ago
Holy moly! Only had big marble sized hail where I live O_o Thats scary as hell!
CatWoman312 3 years ago
A word of advice for anyone reading. If you financed a car always get gap insurance. Your insurance with assuming full coverage only pays what the car is worth not the whole loan/car off. That’s what gap is for. Gap also will not pay for payments you fell behind on. Many people feel oh my car is totaled I’ll quit paying now. No. This will damage your credit. Until you have a zero balance the loan is active. Likely the bank can give you a deferment so take advantage of that while insurance and gap does their thing.
tuzdayschild 3 years ago
Seriously Texas...in the past year...floods, blizzards, tornadoes, giant hail. Y'all need to figure out what you did to upset God and fix it.
Easily Excitable Panda 3 years ago
I live in Austin, and we were lucky to be spared that damage - just a lot of thunder and lightning (and rain). But we've got another severe weather warning tonight, and looking at every photo, I thought, "That could be me tomorrow morning." So have compassion, fellow Pandas.
Jerry Mathers 3 years ago
Let me guess, here comes Texas with their hand out begging the Feds for money again. While I view this as a legitimate need, it would make it a lot more palatable if these guys weren't already begging for money every year due to their crappy political views. For example: 1) winter storms causing power outages and Texas opting out of the National power grid. Federal help please, 2) 9-10 years ago, defunds their state fire department, wildfires run amok as result. Federal help please, 3) climate change isn't real and we are not going to stifle our oil industry, multiple climate caused disasters result, federal help please. They are like the US's troublesome little brother that is always making bad choices, always need mom and dad to bail them out, and refuse to make even the slightest effort to fix their crap. After we bail em out of this one, maybe a little tough love is in order.
jonnotheGOAT 3 years ago
i live in texas and i was just outside the storm. i couldn't sleep cuz it was loud af (even worse it was a school night). i feel bad for the ppl inside the storm. hope yall r safe
lunanoire 3 years ago
Aunt Messy one of the reasons people don't park in their garages is TX doesn't have basements. So yes, people do use their garages for storage because there isn't anywhere else to store things unless you rent a unit. Just moved from Dallas and can't be happier. My son had two cars ruined because of the massive hailstorms. It's nice to be away from tornado alley. Feel badly though for people who suffered damage, it stinks.
IlovemydogShilo 3 years ago
I love the fact that the Americans STILL make fun of our British weather. At least our weather doesn't try to kill us.
J Sizz 3 years ago
Every time I think of leaving Arizona, I see stuff like this and I think to myself that the heat isn't that bad...
Panda-riffic 3 years ago
Hello fellow Arizonan! I was thinking the same thing!!! Stay cool. 100F in PHX area this weekend. ;-)
Load More Replies... King Joffrey 3 years ago
Wow! I've never seen anything like that, I just hope no-one got killed as getting hit with something like that is like getting hit with a brick. They do say everything is bigger in Texas...
Kimberly Puchniarz 2 years ago
This is most likely due to the chemicals being sprayed on all of us to try and control the weather...snow doesn't melt sometimes it burns black due to these chemicals
Ruth Beaty 3 years ago
Wow, I live just outside East OKC and didn't hear anything about this! We got nothing.
ComfyPanda 3 years ago
Gotta love that storm season in Oklahoma!! Yes I am from OK. No we were fortunate not to get the incredible hail where I live. But I know the miles of cars in Norman got nailed!!! Thoughts and prayers to everyone in Norman!!! Oklahoma STRONG!!!
Kari Panda 3 years ago
My condolences to everyone who was a victim of this. I hope you have insurance that covers the damage and that none of you was hurt :(
Calypso poet 3 years ago
We've twice had bad hail storms where 1 of our vehicle got severe damage. It's mesmerizing to watch, but scary because it's so destructive.
marianne eliza 3 years ago
Next time you get an insurance rate increase for house or car, remember this. The pain is spread out to all policy holders.
Bonny Krahn 3 years ago
This is near where I used to live. I taught in Keller ISD for 16 years. I have lived through several storms like this. One hit just as a group of kids had been dropped off at a park in Ft.Worth. The hail was this big. It was some kind of dance performance and the parents had dropped off their kids to pick them up after. When it hit a policeman layed his body across the kids to protect them. They all survived. Another 18 year old had just bought a new pickup and ran outside to get it out of the storm. He got struck in the head and died. A teacher I worked with had a hailstone go through her roof, through her kitchen ceiling and bounce around in her kitchen. Being in a car did not help. Both front and back windows were completely out. And it is true we have no basements and most people use their garage for storage. So cars are outside. I doubt animals outside survived. Or homeless people.
Gabby M 3 years ago
Many apartment complexes and even some houses don't have garages/covered parking. Plus, there are car lots where most of the cars are uncovered.
Load More Replies...
kath morgan 3 years ago
Wow those are some powerful hails. It’s amazing that the sky can make such large solid objects
Kim Irving 3 years ago
All I keep thinking about is the way "The Day After Tomorrow" starts.....
Noemie Houtekie-N'Da 3 years ago (edited)
Our area barely missed the DFW hailstorm. If we drove for about 15 minutes we would have been pelted with hail. Poor people who were affected, I'm so sorry for you guys.
Aunt Messy 3 years ago
Thankfully we didn't encounter hail this big when we lived in Texas. I think the biggest we had was golf ball sized. The thing that always struck me as bizarre was that Texans don't park their cars in their garages. The houses ALL have a garage, but they're full of stuff and junk. the cars live on the driveway. Then people are surprised when their cars get damaged.
Steve Barnett 3 years ago
“The Ice Company had to rethink their free-sample-for-everyone campaign in Texas due to a mostly negative response”
Cupcake168 3 years ago
But climate change doesn’t exist. Anyway, I feel sorry fore everybody affected or harmed.
Jerry Mathers 3 years ago
Hey don't mess with Texas! It isn't nice to pick on morons! ;-)
Load More Replies... Night Shade 3 years ago
I'm surprised that there were no causualties because that hail is lethal.
JennyLaRue 3 years ago
I'll stop complaining about the hail storm I just got caught in - those pea sized pellets were nothing compared to these monsters!
Sivi 3 years ago
Holy moly! Only had big marble sized hail where I live O_o Thats scary as hell!
CatWoman312 3 years ago
A word of advice for anyone reading. If you financed a car always get gap insurance. Your insurance with assuming full coverage only pays what the car is worth not the whole loan/car off. That’s what gap is for. Gap also will not pay for payments you fell behind on. Many people feel oh my car is totaled I’ll quit paying now. No. This will damage your credit. Until you have a zero balance the loan is active. Likely the bank can give you a deferment so take advantage of that while insurance and gap does their thing.
tuzdayschild 3 years ago
Seriously Texas...in the past year...floods, blizzards, tornadoes, giant hail. Y'all need to figure out what you did to upset God and fix it.
Easily Excitable Panda 3 years ago
I live in Austin, and we were lucky to be spared that damage - just a lot of thunder and lightning (and rain). But we've got another severe weather warning tonight, and looking at every photo, I thought, "That could be me tomorrow morning." So have compassion, fellow Pandas.
Jerry Mathers 3 years ago
Let me guess, here comes Texas with their hand out begging the Feds for money again. While I view this as a legitimate need, it would make it a lot more palatable if these guys weren't already begging for money every year due to their crappy political views. For example: 1) winter storms causing power outages and Texas opting out of the National power grid. Federal help please, 2) 9-10 years ago, defunds their state fire department, wildfires run amok as result. Federal help please, 3) climate change isn't real and we are not going to stifle our oil industry, multiple climate caused disasters result, federal help please. They are like the US's troublesome little brother that is always making bad choices, always need mom and dad to bail them out, and refuse to make even the slightest effort to fix their crap. After we bail em out of this one, maybe a little tough love is in order.
jonnotheGOAT 3 years ago
i live in texas and i was just outside the storm. i couldn't sleep cuz it was loud af (even worse it was a school night). i feel bad for the ppl inside the storm. hope yall r safe
lunanoire 3 years ago
Aunt Messy one of the reasons people don't park in their garages is TX doesn't have basements. So yes, people do use their garages for storage because there isn't anywhere else to store things unless you rent a unit. Just moved from Dallas and can't be happier. My son had two cars ruined because of the massive hailstorms. It's nice to be away from tornado alley. Feel badly though for people who suffered damage, it stinks.
IlovemydogShilo 3 years ago
I love the fact that the Americans STILL make fun of our British weather. At least our weather doesn't try to kill us.
J Sizz 3 years ago
Every time I think of leaving Arizona, I see stuff like this and I think to myself that the heat isn't that bad...
Panda-riffic 3 years ago
Hello fellow Arizonan! I was thinking the same thing!!! Stay cool. 100F in PHX area this weekend. ;-)
Load More Replies... King Joffrey 3 years ago
Wow! I've never seen anything like that, I just hope no-one got killed as getting hit with something like that is like getting hit with a brick. They do say everything is bigger in Texas...
Kimberly Puchniarz 2 years ago
This is most likely due to the chemicals being sprayed on all of us to try and control the weather...snow doesn't melt sometimes it burns black due to these chemicals
Ruth Beaty 3 years ago
Wow, I live just outside East OKC and didn't hear anything about this! We got nothing.
ComfyPanda 3 years ago
Gotta love that storm season in Oklahoma!! Yes I am from OK. No we were fortunate not to get the incredible hail where I live. But I know the miles of cars in Norman got nailed!!! Thoughts and prayers to everyone in Norman!!! Oklahoma STRONG!!!
Kari Panda 3 years ago
My condolences to everyone who was a victim of this. I hope you have insurance that covers the damage and that none of you was hurt :(
Calypso poet 3 years ago
We've twice had bad hail storms where 1 of our vehicle got severe damage. It's mesmerizing to watch, but scary because it's so destructive.
marianne eliza 3 years ago
Next time you get an insurance rate increase for house or car, remember this. The pain is spread out to all policy holders.
Bonny Krahn 3 years ago
This is near where I used to live. I taught in Keller ISD for 16 years. I have lived through several storms like this. One hit just as a group of kids had been dropped off at a park in Ft.Worth. The hail was this big. It was some kind of dance performance and the parents had dropped off their kids to pick them up after. When it hit a policeman layed his body across the kids to protect them. They all survived. Another 18 year old had just bought a new pickup and ran outside to get it out of the storm. He got struck in the head and died. A teacher I worked with had a hailstone go through her roof, through her kitchen ceiling and bounce around in her kitchen. Being in a car did not help. Both front and back windows were completely out. And it is true we have no basements and most people use their garage for storage. So cars are outside. I doubt animals outside survived. Or homeless people.
Gabby M 3 years ago
Many apartment complexes and even some houses don't have garages/covered parking. Plus, there are car lots where most of the cars are uncovered.
Load More Replies... kath morgan 3 years ago
Wow those are some powerful hails. It’s amazing that the sky can make such large solid objects
Kim Irving 3 years ago
All I keep thinking about is the way "The Day After Tomorrow" starts.....
Noemie Houtekie-N'Da 3 years ago (edited)
Our area barely missed the DFW hailstorm. If we drove for about 15 minutes we would have been pelted with hail. Poor people who were affected, I'm so sorry for you guys.
Aunt Messy 3 years ago
Thankfully we didn't encounter hail this big when we lived in Texas. I think the biggest we had was golf ball sized. The thing that always struck me as bizarre was that Texans don't park their cars in their garages. The houses ALL have a garage, but they're full of stuff and junk. the cars live on the driveway. Then people are surprised when their cars get damaged.
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