Tennis ball-sized hail causes widespread damage near Austin, Texas
A severe hailstorm struck Georgetown and nearby areas in the Austin metropolitan region of Texas on the evening of April 22, 2025. The storm produced hailstones measuring 3.8 cm to 7.6 cm (1.5 to 3 inches) in diameter, causing significant property damage and widespread power outages.
Satellite image acquired at 00:00 UTC on April 23, 2025 (19:00 CDT, April 22). Credit: NOAA/GOES-East, RAMMB/CIRA, The Watchers
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Williamson County, including Georgetown, as the storm moved through the area. According to local reports, the hailstorm struck around 20:30 CDT on April 22, with the most intense impacts felt in Georgetown and nearby Round Rock.
Reports indicate that hailstones as large as tennis balls fell in parts of the area, resulting in shattered windshields, broken windows, and damaged roofs.
Local businesses, including car dealerships and retail centers, reported shattered glass and dented inventory.
Social media posts from residents and weather trackers described hail covering roads “like snow” and shattering windshields, with one Georgetown resident reporting, “My car’s windshield is completely gone.”
The Georgetown Fire Department responded to numerous calls, including one minor injury from a vehicle crash attributed to the hazardous conditions.
Oncor, the region’s primary electric provider, reported approximately 5 000 customers without power at the peak of the storm, with restoration efforts continuing into the following morning.
According to HailTrace, a weather tech company, damage assessments estimate that nearly 29 000 structures in Georgetown and surrounding areas were impacted by hail of 2.5 cm (1 inch) or larger.
NWS meteorologists noted that the storm was part of a broader weather pattern bringing severe thunderstorms to Central Texas.
While Georgetown bore the brunt of the hail, other areas in Williamson County, including Taylor and Hutto, were under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch until late Tuesday night.
No fatalities were reported, but the scale of property damage has raised concerns about recovery costs in a region already accustomed to springtime severe weather.
Local officials are urging residents to report damage to Williamson County Emergency Management to aid in recovery efforts.
This event marks the latest in a series of destructive weather events in Texas this spring. On March 25–26, a hailstorm in Dallas-Fort Worth caused extensive damage to vehicles and homes, with hail up to 5 cm (2 inches) in diameter.
Central Texas is particularly prone to such storms due to its warm, moist air masses that fuel powerful thunderstorms, according to meteorologist Eric Bruning. “Spring is peak season for hail in Texas, and Georgetown’s storm shows how quickly these events can escalate,” Bruning said.
References:
1 Massive hailstorm impacts Central Texas suburb near Austin – My San Antonio – April 23, 2025
I'm a dedicated researcher, journalist, and editor at The Watchers. With over 20 years of experience in the media industry, I specialize in hard science news, focusing on extreme weather, seismic and volcanic activity, space weather, and astronomy, including near-Earth objects and planetary defense strategies. You can reach me at teo /at/ watchers.news.
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