The hail in Texas was so big Tuesday that it required a new description

[240B]

MSN.com
Matthew Cappucci
May 29, 2024

LUBBOCK, Tex. — A string of rotating thunderstorms developed across west Texas on Tuesday, dropping record-setting hail and prompting a novel warning message from the National Weather Service. Hail the size of DVDs bombarded communities to the northwest of Lubbock, shattering windshields, damaging structures and even leaving small craters in fields and farmland.

In an unusual turn of events, the biggest hail report, at nearly five inches in diameter, came from … me. I happened to be storm chasing and was stationed in the town of Pettit, Tex., about 40 miles northwest of Lubbock, where I encountered hail larger than grapefruits.

I had pre-chilled a mobile freezer down to 24.8 degrees Fahrenheit to preserve hailstones in the off chance that I happened upon something noteworthy. As luck would have it, I did.

My report prompted the Weather Service to issue a warning for hail five inches in diameter. Examination of a database of Weather Service warnings indicates that this was first such warning among the 122 Weather Forecast Offices serving the United States and its territories since at least 2010.

While Weather Service forecasts have highlighted the potential for hail this big in watches, I could find no record of warnings for DVD-sized hail.

(more)
https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/ar-BB1nhDkY

[bigheadfred]

Holy hail!

[corbe]

   Robin an I watched the storm come in from my deck, passed @ 4 miles North, beautiful show. She moved in and two hours later with a h3ll of a Storm, just a little off track.

   PASSSION is my Woman's middle name.

   @Texas Robin

[Smokin Joe]

I believe that's referred to as "softball sized hail".

[Bigun]

I believe that's referred to as "softball sized hail".

I've seen it once. In 1984 a couple of days after I had purchased my first brand new truck.

[Sighlass]

I have never seen hail that big, little bigger than golfball size was big enough for me.

[Smokin Joe]

I have never seen hail that big, little bigger than golfball size was big enough for me.

I was in the middle of a drilling location when we got hit by quarter sized hail. I never realized how much of me could get underneath that hard hat....