Giant hail up to 11.4 cm (4.5 inches) reported in Texas, destructive 10.2 cm (4 inches) hail swath impacts Missouri
Giant hail up to 11.4 cm (4.5 inches) was reported in Johnson County, Texas, late on April 28, 2026, while a separate corridor of 7.6–10.2 cm (3–4 inches) hail caused structural and vehicle damage across southwest Missouri earlier the same day. The storms were part of a multi-state severe weather outbreak stretching from Oklahoma and Arkansas into Mississippi, producing widespread reports of large hail, damaging winds, and isolated tornadoes. Confirmed impacts included broken windows, roof damage, and an animal fatality at a zoo in Springfield, Missouri.
Satellite image acquired at 23:10 UTC on April 28, 2026. Credit: NOAA/GOES-East, Zoom Earth, The Watchers
The largest hailstone of the event was documented near Godley, Texas, where a trained spotter measured 11.4 cm (4.5 inches). Surrounding communities in Johnson County reported repeated hail between 7.6 and 8.9 cm (3–3.5 inches), with wind-driven stones breaking residential windows and damaging structures.
Farther north, a separate and highly concentrated hail core developed across southwest Missouri, particularly in Greene and Lawrence counties. Repeated measurements between 7.6 and 10.2 cm (3–4 inches) were recorded from Aurora through Republic to Springfield, with widespread reports of vehicle damage, shattered windows, and impacts to roofs, siding, and gutters.
Hail impacts extended across the Springfield–Branson National Airport, where airport officials reported that 5–7.6 cm (2–3 inches) hail affected the entire 13.4 km² (3 300 acres) property. Airport spokesperson Ren Bishop Lubbering stated that vehicles across the facility, including rental fleets and privately owned cars, sustained damage.
Airport operations continued, but flight schedules were disrupted for several hours and potentially into subsequent days while damage assessments and aircraft inspections were carried out.
At Dickerson Park Zoo in Springfield, hailstones up to 10.2 cm (4 inches) damaged multiple enclosures. One animal was killed and another injured, and the facility was temporarily closed following the storm. Nearby Fair Grove reported numerous broken windows at a high school, consistent with hail exceeding 4.5 cm (1.75 inches).
Hundreds (if not more) cars are heavily damaged at the Springfield-Branson National Airport after a devastating hail event today. These rentals lined up took a beating. Very costly event. #mowx pic.twitter.com/miDYDfJTY0
— Lincoln Hauser (@Lincoln_Wx) April 28, 2026
The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) also received reports of 5–7.6 cm (2–3 inches) hail across northwest Arkansas and additional 7.6 cm (3 inches) reports in Mississippi, including near Vaughan in Yazoo County.
Dozens of hail reports were recorded alongside numerous wind damage incidents, including downed trees, power lines, and localized structural impacts. While wind contributed to infrastructure damage in several areas, the largest losses in Missouri were directly associated with hail.
The storms developed within a high-instability environment combined with strong vertical wind shear, supporting discrete supercells capable of producing giant hail. Forecast guidance earlier in the day had highlighted a high-end hail risk across North Texas, and observed hail sizes matched that environment.
Late April marks the intensification phase of the U.S. severe weather season, when moisture returns from the Gulf of Mexico and strong temperature gradients favor organized convection.
References:
1 Hail reports – NWS/SPC – April 28, 2026
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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