Monstrous Hail Now the New National Record
The nearly two pound hailstone that fell in South Dakota last week holds the title of largest hailstone in weight and diameter. Mary Yoon has more.
The small town of Vivian, S.D., is receiving a lot of recognition after some not-so-ordinary thunderstorms rolled through the central part of the state last Friday and left quite a mark.
A 1.9-pound hailstone plummeted to the ground as high winds and ample rain continued to fall last Friday afternoon. The massive hailstone has been deemed the record largest U.S. hailstone in terms of weight and diameter by National Weather Service meteorologists.
Discovered by ranch hand Les Scott, the hailstone measured 8 inches in diameter with an 18.5-inch circumference.
"Officially, where records have been kept, this will be the U.S. record and world record for weight. So very impressive," said Mike Fowle of the National Weather Service in a Keloland Television article.
Image of the Vivian, S.D. hailstone courtesy of NOAA
The previous record was held by a hailstone that fell seven years ago, in Aurora, Neb. The Aurora hailstone measured 7 inches in diameter. The record holder for heaviest hailstone was achieved in September 1970 in Coffeyville, Kan. when a 1.67-pounder pummeled from the sky.
Accompanying the monstrous hail was significant damage that stacked up after the storm ceased.
Holes, cracks and dents in house roofs, windows and paneling, vehicles and yards were apparent after the storms. So now as the residents of Vivian wait to see if a new national record was set they also wait to see just how much the storm's damage is going to cost them.
"I didn't think it was near that, but I'm glad I got it I guess," said Les Scott to Keloland Television referring to the giant hailstone."I'm just sad about the town of Vivian. I hope the insurance people help them out as much as they can because they need it."
Related to the Story:
Was Largest Hail Stone Record Broken Friday?
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A tornado crossed Merrimac, Litchfield, Londonderry and North Chester. The same storm produced hailstones that had an 11-inch circumference and weighed 1/2 pound.
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