Storm batters Texas city with hail bigger than softballs

Digital WritersThe Weather Network
Digital Writers

Hail as large as 5.33 inches (135.38 mm), bigger than softball-sized, dropped during a severe thunderstorm in Burkburnett, Texas, Friday.

A Texas city was hit by hail larger than softballs Friday evening, damaging cars, after severe thunderstorms ripped through the state, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Norman, Okla.

NWS confirmed through social media pictures that Burkburnett was hit by hail as large as 5.33 inches (135.38 mm), larger than softball-sized, which is defined as 4.25 inches (107.95 mm). The hailstones weren't far off the all-time U.S. record, which was 8 inches (203.20 mm), reported in South Dakota on July 23, 2010.

People took to social media to post images of the sizeable hailstones. Burkburnett resident, Toni Marie Scott, shared a photo of a child holding one of the large stones.

Edited Texas hail

Hail fell in Burkburnett, Texas. Photo: Toni Marie Scott.

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Officials said thunderstorms formed west of Wichita Falls in the late afternoon Friday, quickly intensifying as they headed towards Burkburnett.

Thumbnail courtesy of Toni Marie Scott.

Source: Fort Worth Star-Telegram