The Most Destructive Hailstorms In US History
By: 911 Water Damage Experts
Hailstorms have an uncanny ability to etch themselves into our memories.
Whether you’ve marveled at ice pellets descending from the sky while safe indoors or hastily sought shelter for your car during an unexpected hailstorm, the experience is unforgettable.
While most hailstorms are relatively mild and leave little damage in their wake, some unleash a ferocity that can lead to billions in property losses and tragically claim lives.
In this article, we delve into the annals of history to unveil the 22 worst hailstorms that have struck the United States. But before we dive into the chronicles of these meteorological upheavals, let’s understand the phenomenon that is a hailstorm.
Understanding Hailstorms: Nature’s Icy Missiles
A hailstorm, born from the heart of a thunderstorm, delivers spherical balls or clusters of ice, aptly known as “hail” or “hailstones,” to the earth’s surface.
Unlike sleet, which comprises tiny, clear frozen rain pellets, hail emerges as a result of robust upward winds, called updrafts, and frigid atmospheric conditions within a conventional thunderstorm.
These ice particles form within clouds but remain suspended due to the updraft’s force.
As they accumulate moisture from the storm or merge with other hailstones, they grow in size.
When they reach a critical weight beyond the updraft’s capacity, they plummet to the ground. The magnitude of the updraft determines hailstone size, with smaller stones clocking in around 20 mph and the largest hurtling down at over 100 mph.
Hailstorm Hotspots: Where Nature Strikes Hardest
While any thunderstorm holds the potential for hail, it’s areas close to mountain ranges that witness their ferocity due to the upward air currents caused by these geographical features. Additionally, regions with colder atmospheric temperatures become breeding grounds for hailstorms.
This phenomenon places a spotlight on “Hail Alley,” where Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming converge near the Rocky Mountain Range. Landlocked plains states from Texas to the Dakotas and westward to Missouri, including Kansas and Oklahoma, bear the brunt of these icy tempests.
Though warmer states like Florida experience thunderstorms, their milder air temperatures tend to prevent the formation of larger, more destructive hailstones, sparing them from our list.
Unmasking The Wrath: How Hailstorms Inflict Damage
While the swiftness of a baseball-sized hailstone mimics the velocity of a major-league pitch, it’s surprisingly rare for hailstorms to cause human injuries in the US, thanks to improved infrastructure and early warning systems. Agriculture, however, suffers the brunt of the damage, affecting crops and livestock.
Vehicles and structures also endure harm, with windshields, glass roofs, and skylights especially susceptible.
An illustrative example is the 2004 hailstorm in Canada that forced 20,000 individuals to evacuate a mall when its glass atrium roof shattered. While casualties from hailstorms are infrequent in the US, history narrates a grim tale.
During the Hundred Years War in 14th century Europe, an intense hailstorm claimed the lives of 10,000 English soldiers. These soldiers, living in tents, were defenseless against the ice bombardment.
The toll of hailstorms is still felt in India and China, where mountainous rural areas continue to witness casualties to this day.
The 22 Most Destructive Hailstorms In History
#22: “Early Records” – July 6, 1928, Potter, Nebraska
Our journey begins with Nebraska’s historic hailstorm of 1928. This event marked the earliest recorded instance of colossal hailstones. A massive 7-inch, pound-and-a-half hailstone descended, setting a precedent for record-worthy hailstones.
#21: “Largest Hail in SoCal” – September 2, 1960, Southern California
In the annals of hail history, September 2, 1960, shines as the date when Southern California bore witness to golf ball to baseball-sized hailstones. These icy missiles rained down on Riverside County, marking the largest hail ever recorded in this region.
#20: “Oil Tank Explosion” – December 1967, Los Angeles County, California
The winter of ’67 left Los Angeles County engulfed in a chilling hailstorm. Reports suggest that not only did this storm blanket the area with ice, but it also orchestrated a lightning strike, triggering an oil tanker explosion and subsequent oil spill.
#19: “A New Record” – September 3, 1970, Coffeyville, Kansas
The Sunflower State etched its name in hail history with the monumental hailstone produced during the 1970 Coffeyville storm. This colossal hailstone measured a staggering 5.7 inches in diameter, shattering previous records.
#18: “A Child is Lost” – July 30, 1979, Fort Collins, Colorado
Tragedy struck Fort Collins in 1979 when a swift 40-minute storm claimed the life of a 3-month-old baby. In a heart-wrenching sequence, the child’s mother sought shelter, but her efforts couldn’t shield her child from the onslaught of hailstones. Additionally, 25 individuals suffered injuries due to the falling ice.
#17: “Damage in Denver” – July 11, 1990, Denver, Colorado
Denver faced a hailstorm of significant proportions in 1990, causing an estimated $625 million in damages. Softball-sized hail hammered homes and vehicles, leaving a trail of destruction.
#16: “Double Trouble” – June 19, 1992, Wichita, Kansas
Kansas experienced a double whammy as twin severe thunderstorms ravaged the state within a mere six hours. This onslaught caused $500 million in property damage and a staggering $100 million in crop losses.
#15: “The Mayfest Storm” – May 5, 1995, Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas
The Fort Worth Mayfest turned into an unexpected catastrophe as a supercell thunderstorm unleashed 4-inch and larger hailstones on the festivities. This storm resulted in an estimated $2 billion worth of damage.
#14: “Tragic Hail Fatality” – March 29, 2000, Lake Worth, Texas
Lake Worth, Texas, witnessed one of the last recorded hail fatalities in the US in 2000. A softball-sized hailstone struck a 19-year-old man, highlighting the lethal potential of these icy projectiles.
#13: “Three Inches Deep” – May 18, 2000, Chicago area, Illinois
The Chicago area succumbed to a widespread hailstorm in 2000, amassing nearly $600 million in damages and plunging over 100,000 homes into darkness. Hail piled up to over three inches deep, causing transportation chaos.
#12: “Costliest in US History” – April 10, 2001, St. Louis, Missouri
The I-70 corridor spanning Kansas, Missouri, and Illinois bore the brunt of an unyielding hailstorm in 2001. Baseball-sized hail pounded all three states, culminating in a costly catastrophe.
#11: “Another New Record” – June 22, 2003, Aurora, Nebraska
A Nebraskan hailstone enthusiast braved the elements to uncover a hailstone of unprecedented dimensions in 2003. This gargantuan ice marvel boasted a 7-inch diameter and an astonishing 18.74-inch circumference, earning it the moniker of “bowling-ball sized.”
#10: “Dealership Damages” – April 20, 2006, San Marcos, Texas
San Marcos, Texas, became the stage for a hailstorm spectacle in 2006. With 4-inch hailstones raining down, this tempest triggered a staggering 10,000 auto insurance claims. Adding to the catastrophe, a stricken Toyota dealership bore the brunt of the storm’s wrath. Amid the chaos, one woman found herself hospitalized due to the ferocity of the Texas storm.
#9: “Suburban Storm” – July 20, 2009, Denver, Colorado
The picturesque suburbs of Denver, Colorado, bore witness to a hailstorm of unprecedented scale in 2009. This tempest held the dubious honor of being the costliest storm in the state’s history at the time. Two confirmed tornadoes accompanied the havoc, causing over $700 million in widespread hail damage across the suburban communities of Denver.
#8: “Twice in One Week” – May 10 and May 16, 2010, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
In a stroke of ill fortune for Oklahoma, the spring of 2010 brought forth a week of relentless hailstorms. Occurring merely six days apart, these twin storms unleashed their fury first on a Monday and then on the subsequent Sunday. The combined toll of these tempests resulted in a staggering approximately $1 billion worth of damage across the state.
#7: “The Current Record Hailstone” – July 23, 2010, Vivian, South Dakota
July 23, 2010, marked a monumental moment in hail history as Vivian, South Dakota, witnessed the descent of a hailstone that holds the official record for diameter. This colossal ice marvel measured nearly 8 inches across and weighed almost 2 pounds, securing its place in meteorological annals.
#6: “Phoenix Gets Pummeled” – October 5, 2010, Phoenix, Arizona
Amidst the arid landscapes of Arizona, a surprising storm emerged in October 2010. The Grand Canyon State, unaccustomed to hailstorms, encountered golf ball-sized hailstones that wreaked havoc on homes and automobiles. The financial toll of this unexpected tempest amounted to a staggering $2.7 billion.
#5: “Second Costliest in US History” – April 28, 2012, St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri, found itself in the crosshairs of two ferocious supercell thunderstorms in 2012. These meteorological juggernauts unleashed baseball-sized hailstones upon vast stretches of the city, leaving a trail of destruction that resulted in an estimated $1.6 billion in property losses.
#4: “Destruction in Dallas” – June 13, 2012, Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas
The Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area was rocked by the fourth costliest hailstorm in its history in 2012. With a staggering $900 million in damages, this tempest left a path of destruction across homes, businesses, and property throughout the urban expanse.
#3: “Costliest Texas Hailstorm” – April 16, 2016, San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas, witnessed the fury of an unparalleled hailstorm in 2016, claiming the title of the costliest storm in the state’s history. With hailstones reaching the size of grapefruits, this relentless weather system caused over $1.4 billion in destruction, leaving a lasting mark on the Lone Star State.
#2: “Most Catastrophic in State History” – May 8, 2017, Denver, Colorado
“The Front Range Hail Storm” made history in Colorado as the most catastrophic storm the state has ever faced. During rush hour, commuters found themselves trapped in their vehicles, battered by baseball-sized hailstones. The aftermath? Over $2 billion in damage, surpassing even the toll of that year’s wildfires and earning a grim distinction as the deadliest Colorado storm.
#1: “Multi-State Superstorm” – June 9, 2017, Minneapolis, Minnesota
In the annals of meteorological turmoil, June 9, 2017, stands out as a day of multi-state chaos. As a line of thunderstorms swept from North Dakota to Michigan, the Minneapolis metro area bore the brunt of the devastation. With damages surpassing $2.5 billion, this storm etched itself into the history books as one of the most catastrophic hailstorms ever witnessed.
Conclusion
The history of hailstorms in the US serves as a poignant reminder of nature’s unpredictable might. From the awe-inspiring to the disastrous, hailstorms have left their mark on both landscapes and human lives.
As we remember these historic events, we’re reminded of the need to respect the power of nature while striving to better understand and mitigate the devastation caused by these icy tempests.
If you have any questions about our article, “The Most Destructive Hailstorms In US History” or need storm restoration services feel free to call us at 1-833-WE-DRY-IT any time 24/7/365 or chat with us on LiveChat or social media.
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