List of costly or deadly hailstorms

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This is a list of the costliest or deadliest hailstorms on record.

Contents

Notable events

North America

DateLocationIncident
6 July 1928 Potter, Nebraska, USMeasuring 7 in (178 mm) in diameter, and weighing 1.5 lb (680 g), this hailstone is believed to be the record largest known in the U.S. at the time. [1]
2 September 1960 Southern California, US Golf ball to baseball sized hail occurred in parts of southern California, including 2.75 in (7.0 cm) (possibly larger) hail around Boulevard and in Riverside County. That is the largest hail recorded in southern California. A severe thunderstorm also struck San Bernardino. [2]
3 September 1970 Coffeyville, Kansas, USAt the time the largest hailstone ever found in the U.S., measuring 5.7 in (140 mm) diameter, 17.5 in (440 mm) circumference, and 1.67 lb (760 g).
30 July 1979 Fort Collins, Colorado, USA violent forty-minute hailstorm bombed Fort Collins, CO, with hail up to grapefruit size. Two thousand homes and 2500 automobiles were severely damaged, and about 25 people were injured, mainly when hit on the head by the huge stones. A three-month-old baby died of a fractured skull, struck by a large hailstone while being carried by her mother, who was running with her to seek cover. [3]
11 July 1990 Denver, Colorado, US Softball-sized hail destroyed roofs and cars, causing $625 million in total damage ($1.1 billion in damage adjusted to 2013 dollars). [4]
7 September 1991 Calgary, Alberta, Canada A thunderstorm caused $342 million worth of insurable damage [5] in Calgary. Thirteen additional hailstorms between 1981 and 1998 caused an estimated $600 million in damage in the Calgary area alone. [6]
19 June 1992 Wichita, Kansas, USTwo batches of severe thunderstorms, occurring within 6 hours of each other, dumped hailstones up to 4.5 in (11 cm) in diameter across Sedgwick, including the city of Wichita, and surrounding counties in south-central Kansas. Over 10,000 homes were damaged. The hail left wheat fields in a near total loss. Estimated property damage totaled $500 million with crop damage at $100 million. The thunderstorm episode ranks as one of the worst ever to hit Kansas. [7]
5 May 1995 Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, USThe 1995 Mayfest Storm produced $1.1 billion insured losses, and total storm damage was reported at around $2 billion. The storms produced hail about the size of softballs. [8] [9] [10]
24 July 1996 Calgary, Alberta, and Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Orange-sized hailstones caused almost $300 million worth of damage in Calgary and Winnipeg, as well as serious flooding. Notably, one-third of cars damaged by the storm were irreparable. [11]
29 March 2000 Lake Worth, Texas, USThe last known hail fatality in the United States occurred. The victim was Juan Oseguera, a nineteen-year-old man who died from head injuries after being hit by a softball sized hailstone in Lake Worth. [12]
18 May 2000 Chicago area, Illinois, US$572 million. Golfball-, baseball-, and softball-sized hail damaged roofs, cars, patio furniture, skylights, and windows in the area's worst and most widespread hailstorm in 30 years (McHenry, Lake, northern Kane, northern Cook County). Around 100,000 homes lost power. Hail was 3 in (76 mm) deep in many areas. There were 100 canceled flights, and train service was disrupted. [13]
10 April 2001 St. Louis, Missouri, US$2.0 billion+. The costliest hailstorm in US history struck the I-70 corridor of eastern Kansas, across Missouri, into southwestern Illinois producing many baseball-sized hail reports. [14]
22 June 2003 Aurora, Nebraska, USThe largest hailstone on record at the time fell on this date. It had a 7-inch (178 mm) diameter and a circumference of 18.74 inches (476 mm). [15]
11 July 2004 Edmonton, Alberta Canada Grape-golf-ball sized hail and more than 150 millimetres (5.9 in) of rain in fell in 30 minutes, leaving 6 centimetres (2.4 in) deep of hail on the ground and flash flooding, it is estimated to be a 1-in-200 year event. Over 20,000 People were evacuated from West Edmonton Mall when the weight from the hail and rain caused the glass roofs to shatter. [16]
20–21 April 2006 San Marcos, Texas, USHail of sizes up to 10 cm (3.9 in) [17] [18] results in 10,000 auto claims, 7,000 homeowner and commercial property claims ranging between $100–160 million insured losses. [19] [20] One woman was hospitalized. [21] The storm was especially costly at the San Marcos Outlet Malls and a nearby Toyota dealership. [22] [23]
20 July 2009 Denver, Colorado, USA hailstorm in the western suburbs of Denver caused $770 million (USD) damage. [24]
10 & 16 May 2010 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USTwo major hailstorms separated by less than a week caused damage to large portions of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. Damages from the first storm caused an estimated $595 million (USD) damage, and the second storm was expected to be around the same, totaling around $1 billion in damages. [25]
12 July 2010 Calgary, Alberta, CanadaThe hailstorm that pounded Calgary on 12 July eclipsed the record originally set in 1991, with insurable damages totaling at least $400 million, [26] excluding agricultural crop damage. The storm brought hail as wide as 4 cm (1.6 in).[ citation needed ]
23 July 2010 Vivian, South Dakota, USThe largest diameter hailstone known, measuring 7.87 in (20.0 cm) in diameter and weighing 1.9375 lb (0.88 kg), fell on Vivian during an exceptional hailstorm. [27]
5 October 2010 Phoenix, Arizona, USThe 5 Oct. hailstones - some exceeding 2 inches in diameter - pounded cars, smashed windows and blasted apart roof tiles and shingles. The storm caused more than $2.7 billion in property damage, putting Arizona atop the 2010 list of states with the most insured-property losses. [28]
28 April 2012 St. Louis, Missouri, USSeries of hailstorms amount to 2nd costliest in U.S. history at estimated $1.6 billion in insured losses [29]
13 June 2012 Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, USBaseball to softball-sized hail pummeled DFW causing significant damage to cars, houses, and other buildings. Estimated damages were approximately $900 million. [30]
12 August 2012 Calgary, Alberta, CanadaA storm, with hailstones approximately the size of golf balls, battered Calgary for 10 minutes. A subsequent storm 2 days later brought in another round of hailstorm with high winds causing additional damage to the city. The cost of these events reached $552 million. [31]
12 April 2016 San Antonio, Texas, USA storm producing hail up to the size of grapefruits pummeled the city causing extensive damage to cars, homes, windows, and roofs. It is estimated that the storm cost 1.4 billion dollars in losses (the costliest in the state's history). [32]
8 May 2017 Denver, Colorado, USIn what was then the most catastrophic storm in state history, baseball-sized stones pummeled the west Denver Metro area, resulting in extensive damage to homes, windows, vehicles (many of which were in the late day commute), and roofs. The storm surpassed the state's costliest wildfires, forced the closure of the Colorado Mills Mall until the end of 2017, and caused $2.3 billion in damage. [33] [34] [35] [ full citation needed ]
9 June 2017 Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA storm system lasting over a week created severe hail and high wind damage, reaching from Minnesota to Texas to Virginia to New York. The Minneapolis metro area suffered especially, receiving hail damage to many buildings and vehicles. The total damage was estimated to be over $2.5 billion. [36]
13 June 2020 Calgary, Alberta, CanadaRegarded as the hailstorm capital of Canada, a massive hailstorm of tennis-ball-sized pummeled northeastern Calgary and nearby communities. Preliminary damage estimates weigh in at least $1.2 billion, eclipsing the $400 million hailstorm event 10 years prior and becoming the 4th costliest natural disaster in Canada. [37]
21 June 2023 Morrison, Colorado, USAn evening severe thunderstorm produced several inches of hail, some stones measuring up to the size of golf balls and tennis balls. Over 90 people attending a Louis Tomlinson concert at Red Rocks Amphitheater were treated on-site as a result of hail related injuries. Seven people were hospitalized. [38]
15 Jul, 2024 Calgary, Alberta, CanadaMajor hailstorm hit Calgary, causing tennis-ball-sized hail. It caused notable damage to CF Chinook Centre, southwest Calgary, and southeast Calgary. Major traffic jams along Calgary's highways were caused. [39]
30 May 2024 Denver, Colorado, USAn unusually strong storm blanketed a large portion of the northeast Denver metro area in the late evening. Golf ball-sized stones damaged homes and vehicles, in an event comparable to the May 2017 hail storm. Due to the late hour the storm hit, much of the hail would not melt until the following day. [40]
5 Aug, 2024 Calgary, Alberta, Canada A major hailstorm struck Calgary on August 5, 2024. It caused extensive damage to Calgary International Airport, and heavy damage to northwest and northeast Calgary. It is estimated to have caused over $2.8 billion in damage, and is one of the costliest hailstorms in history. [41] [42]

Europe

DateLocationIncident
13 April 1360Outskirts of Chartres, France A freak hail storm struck and killed an estimated 1,000 [43] English soldiers on Black Monday (1360) during the Hundred Years War


May 1411 Wellesbourne, Warwickshire, England, UK The first known severe hailstorm in Britain is thought to have incurred fatalities. [44]
15 May 1697 Hitchin to Great Offley, Hertfordshire, England, UK A H8 level hailstorm is the most intense on record in Britain, known as the 1697 Hertfordshire Hailstorm. [44]
13 July 1788 France and Dutch Republic Heavy damage to crops, leading to further economic turmoil in France and precipitating the French Revolution one year later.
1 July 1891Netherlands, GermanyFrom Brabant and Limburg in the Netherlands, Münsterland, Weserbergland, Brandenburg.
9 August 1843 Midlands and East Anglia, Central and Southern EnglandOne of Britain's worst ever hailstorms, possibly a supercell, caused massive destruction as hailstones reached up to 1.5 m (4.9 ft) deep in places. The storm is also believed to have spawned several tornadoes, and the exact size of the hail that fell within it is unknown. The overall damage was so great that an entire new insurance company, The General Hail Insurance Company, was formed to help cope with future hailstorms. This company would later be known as the Norwich Union. [45]
22 September 1935 Newport, Monmouthshire to Mundesley, Norfolk, UK A H6 level hailswath at least from points above and possibly longer is longest on record in Britain. [44]
24 May 1937 Belgrade, Yugoslavia The hailstorm lasted for 5 minutes, causing heavy damage and killing many sparrows. Streets were covered in some places with 90 cm (3.0 ft) of icy slush. The largest pieces were over 2 cm (0.79 in) in diameter. [46]
1–2 July 1968 England and Wales Mineral dust blowing in from the Sahara met cold, moist air over the British Isles, forming unusually large hailstones (at least 7.5 centimetres (3.0 in) across, possibly 10 centimetres (3.9 in)) around the dust. In the thunderstorms that ensued, hail piled up to 45 centimetres (18 in) deep and many towns flooded. [47]
12 July 1984 Munich, Bavaria, Germany Tennis ball sized hail fell on Munich and surrounding areas on this date. [48] It was the greatest loss event in the history of the German insurance industry: 200,000 cars were damaged and the storm cost an estimated 3 billion Deutschmark. [49] For years afterwards people jokingly referred to those cars whose bodywork was not repaired as 'Munich Design'.
28–29 June 2006 Villingen-Schwenningen and suburbs, Baden-Württemberg, Germany Supercell thunderstorms, severe damage by grapefruit-sized [50] hailstones, causing €150 million damage, more than 100 injuries.
27–28 July 2013 Reutlingen and Pfortzheim, Baden-Württemberg; Wolfsburg and Hanover, Lower Saxony A series of hailstorms caused large amounts of damage in both Northern and Southern Germany. The total cost of these hailstorms has been estimated to be €3.6 billion. [51] In Reutlingen alone around 70 people received minor injuries. [52] [53]
9 June 2014 France, Belgium, Germany Heavy Hailstorm Ela caused significant damages, with damage claims reaching up to €2.3 billion for France, Belgium and Germany. [54]
8 July 2014 [55] Sofia, Bulgaria 100 million levs in damage claims (c. €51 million) [56]
20 June 2016 Pančevo, Belgrade, Serbia Strong hailstorm with an occurrence of tornado in Pančevo. Baseball to softball-sized hail. [57] [58]
28 May 2019 Zalău, Romania Severe supercell storm with hail the size of eggs smashed cars' windows

Asia

DateLocationIncident
Circa 9th century Roopkund, Uttarakhand, India Several hundred pilgrims were killed by a hailstorm in Roopkund. [59]
12 March – 19 April 1490 Qingyang, China The 1490 Qingyang event may have been due to a large comet breaking up in the atmosphere, or a hail storm. Sources generally considered reliable say more than 10,000 killed, but the official History of Ming does not give a number of casualties. [60] [61] [62]
30 April 1888 Moradabad (Uttar Pradesh), Northern IndiaOne of the deadliest hailstorms of all time killed at least 230 people, and over 1600 sheep and goats, in Uttar Pradesh. The hailstones were reportedly as big as oranges, and in some areas piled up to 2 ft (0.61 m) high. No warning system existed in 1888 and therefore the death toll of this event was exceptionally high. [63]
14 April 1986 Gopalganj, Bangladesh At least 92 people were killed in Gopalganj by some of the heaviest hailstones ever recorded, which were the size of grapefruits and weighed around 1.02 kg (2.25 lb) each. [64]
19 July 2002 Henan Province, the People's Republic of China 25 dead and hundreds injured. [65] [66]
3–4 May, 2022Widely Takasaki, Fujioka, Fukaya, Kumagaya, Ichikawa, eastern Honshu, Japan According to Japan Meteorological Agency official figures, a freak storm occurred between 13:00 and 18:00 local time. This was due to the 15–20 degrees (C) temperature difference between altitudes above 10,000 meters and sea level. Tennis ball, table tennis ball, golf ball size hail and extremely heavy rain fell widespread in the Kanto area, damaging agriculture, personal vehicles, houses, and buildings. 93 people were injured in Gunma Prefecture, according to Japan Fire and Management Disaster Agency.[ citation needed ]

South America

No entries yet.


Africa

DateLocationIncident
1 November 1985 Pretoria, Transvaal, South AfricaMajor hailstorm striking central Pretoria and surrounding areas. Damage estimated at R400m. [67]

Australia

DateLocationIncident
1 January 1947 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 1947 Sydney hailstorm: Early in the afternoon, a storm cell that later formed into a supercell thunderstorm swept in from the south west dropping hailstones larger than 8 cm in diameter over eastern-south west Sydney, inner west, CBD and the eastern suburbs. hundreds of people were caught on Sydney's beaches as the Hailstorm reached the coast line with many knocked unconscious. This event adjusted for inflation caused A$45 million in damages. [68]
18 January 1985 Brisbane, Queensland, AustraliaLate in the afternoon, a supercell thunderstorm swept in from the west dropping hailstones as large as 6 cm (2.4 in) over parts of the city. A wind gust of over 180 km/h (110 mph) was recorded at Brisbane airport and 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain recorded in 15 minutes at the same location. The 30 minutes of destruction caused A$300 million (A$1.7 billion in 2007 adjusted dollars) damage to vehicles and buildings. This rates as the 5th most costly insured event in Australia since 1968. [69] [70] [71]
18 March 1990 Sydney, New South Wales, AustraliaDamaging hailstorm across large swaths of metropolitan Sydney. [72]
14 April 1999 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 1999 Sydney hailstorm: 20,000 properties and 40,000 vehicles were damaged during the storm with more than 25 aircraft damaged at Sydney Airport. One person was killed while fishing after getting struck by lightning and several other people were injured. At A$1.5 billion (A$3.3 billion in 2007 adjusted dollars), it was the costliest hailstorm to hit an Australian populated city. [69] [73] The largest stone measured was 9.5 cm (3.7 in). [74]
9 December 2007 Sydney, New South Wales, AustraliaSupercell thunderstorms caused immense damage in the North and Western Suburbs of Sydney. Worst hit were the suburbs of Blacktown, Castle Hill, and neighbouring Baulkham Hills. Hail stones the size of golf balls damaged cars, windows, and homes. [75]
6–7 March 2010 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 2010 Victorian storms: Heavy rain and large hail across much of Victoria lead to flash flooding in central Melbourne, roofs collapsing at Southern Cross station and Docklands Stadium, and power cuts to over 120,000 households around Victoria. 40,000 insurance claims for over $500 million were lodged.
22 March 2010 Perth, Western Australia, AustraliaThe hailstorm that struck after a long dry spell lasted only a few minutes but caused damage to many houses, a number of hospitals and schools, and an airport terminal. The storm damaged thousands of cars, cut power lines and left 150,000 houses and many traffic lights without power. The storm also caused a landslip at King's Park. [76]
27 November 2014 Brisbane, Queensland, AustraliaThe 2014 Brisbane hailstorm caused severe damage to many buildings and cars in the city. It struck central parts of the city during the afternoon peak period. Around 40 people were injured. Three months after the event it was estimated that the storm caused $1.1 billion worth of damage. [77]
20 November 2019 Timaru, New ZealandThe 2019 Timaru hailstorm was one of New Zealand's costliest weather events in decades. Most damaged was caused to cars.
20 January 2020 Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, AustraliaThe 2020 Canberra hailstorm caused severe damage to cars, buildings, trees and local wildlife.

It struck just after midday and passed in a South Westerly direction across the city. Areas of most impact were the inner city suburbs. Many cars were written off by the damage. It also affected the local wildlife taking shelter in the trees with leaves and branches broken by the ferocity of the hail. [78]

30 October – 1 November 2020 Brisbane, Queensland, AustraliaThe 2020 Brisbane Hailstorms caused major havoc in the southern and western suburbs of the city, with some isolated areas to the north. Damage in excess of AU$50M was recorded on 1 November alone, possibly the day with the most severe weather. Heavily affected suburbs included Coomera, Victoria Point, Ipswich, Amberley, Brisbane's CBD, Redcliffe, and Springfield, which recorded 14 cm hailstones. The event signified the beginning of a forecast La Niña weather phenomenon, in the wake of its destruction.

Largest by country

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thunderstorm</span> Storm characterized by lightning and thunder

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Supercell</span> Thunderstorm that is characterized by the presence of a mesocyclone

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 Hawaii hailstorm</span> Weather event in Hawaii, United States

On the morning of March 9, 2012, a long-lived hailstorm hit the Hawaiian islands of Oahu and Lanai. The hailstorm was produced by a supercell thunderstorm. This event produced the largest hailstone ever recorded in Hawaii since records began in 1950. The hailstone was measured at 4.25 in (10 cm) long, 2.25 in (6 cm) tall, and 2 in (5 cm) wide. National Weather Service meteorologist Tom Birchard stated that the event was "unprecedented."

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">July 1968 United Kingdom thunderstorms</span> Weather event in the British Isles

The July 1968 United Kingdom thunderstorms were the most severe dust fall thunderstorms in the British Isles for over 200 years. A layer of mineral dust blowing north from the Sahara met cold, wet air over the British Isles, resulting in thick, dense clouds and severe thunderstorms across most of England and Wales. These clouds completely blotted out the light in some areas and the rain and hail resulted in property damage and flooding, and at least four people were killed. During the storm, Leeming Bar in North Yorkshire saw 35.7 millimetres (1.41 in) of rain in under 10 minutes – a UK record until 2003.

On May 15, 1697, a severe hailstorm tracked south-westwards between the towns of Hitchin (Hertfordshire) and Potton (Bedfordshire) in Southern England. The storm moved slowly, beginning at 9 am and finishing by 2 pm local time. The parent storm's total track length was at least 25 km (16 mi) long. This hailstorm is widely considered to be the worst hailstorm ever documented in the United Kingdom, with the largest hail ever measured in addition. Widespread damage to property was reported where the hailstorm had passed through, with slate roof tiles smashed to pieces and resulting in at least 1 death.

The 2019 Timaru hailstorm occurred in Timaru, in the Canterbury Region of New Zealand, on 20 November 2019. Lasting about ten minutes, it produced hailstones the size of golf balls and turned the streets white. It caused insurers to pay about NZ$171 milion in damage, mostly to cars, becoming one of New Zealand's costliest natural disasters. At the time of the event, it was the country's fifth costliest natural disaster since records began, and the costliest weather event in the 21st century. Cyclone Gabrielle surpassed the cost of the hailstorm in 2023, by a large margin.

References

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  31. ↑ Calgary Hail Storm Makes Environment Canada's Top 10 Extreme Weather Events
  32. ↑ San Antonio hail storm called costliest in Texas history with nearly $1.4 Billion in losses
  33. ↑ "One year ago: Billion-dollar hail storm hits Colorado". KDVR. 8 May 2018. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  34. ↑ Svaldi, Aldo (23 May 2017). "Hailstorm is costliest ever for Colorado". Denver Post . Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  35. ↑ Hail Damage and Statistics
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