‘Gorilla hail’ pounded parts of Texas. See photos and video from the powerful storm
Parts of Texas were pummeled with so-called “gorilla” hail Monday, leaving smashed windshields and other property damage in its wake.
Just how big is gorilla hail? The severe thunderstorm that hit the Texas Hill Country Monday evening produced hailstones that were as large as a grapefruit., according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
“The hail was not only remarkable for its size, but also for the fact that it reportedly accumulated up to three inches on the ground in Llano, Texas,” NOAA said.
Llano is about 75 miles northwest of Austin.
The term “gorilla hail” was coined by storm chaser Reed Timmer, who met the storm Monday just west of Llano. He shared video driving through the storm with a broken windshield, caused by what he called one of the “top 5 most intense hail cores” he’s encountered.
When the storm ended, he stepped outside his vehicle to show how it had been battered.
As the storm approached Llano, the National Weather Service said it was capable of producing hail the size of a baseball or larger.
Images shared online show just how big some of the hailstones were.
Wow! Check out these hail pics from Llano.
Send your pics to reportit@kxan.com
Ron Cunningham, Bette Hoy, Belinda Morgan, Brandi Wooten@KXAN_News @KXAN_Weather @NWSSanAntonio #EWXspotter pic.twitter.com/RYLT5j6YBH— Christopher Adams (@cadamsKXAN) April 13, 2021
Huge hail in Llano, Texas! Just listen to it. : Bette Hoy #txwx #KXAN pic.twitter.com/g7NFC5dv83
— Nick Bannin (@nickbannin) April 13, 2021
HAIL IN LLANO COUNTY: Up to baseball-sized hail fell in parts of #Llano County this evening (Photo from Melissa Cunningham)
MORE PHOTOS & VIDEO: https://t.co/hFbJuiL6VO pic.twitter.com/Px8n4Z1hSS— KXAN News (@KXAN_News) April 13, 2021
@zackshieldsFOX7 Llano Co pic.twitter.com/rSKqc1tjb7
— Nurse Suzyq (@nursesuzy_q) April 13, 2021
Severe storms made their way through the Hill Country last night. Credit: John Bolgiano via Storyful #atxwx #hail #llano #txwx
MORE: https://t.co/ymOpRHy0c5 pic.twitter.com/AlxEf2Y2Xf— FOX 7 Austin (@fox7austin) April 13, 2021
There are no reports of injuries from the storm.