AMARILLO, Texas – When the National Weather Service issues alerts for damaging hail, it’s a clear sign that thunderstorms mean business, and that’s exactly what storm chasers found out on Wednesday.
Numerous chasers across the Lone Star State reported shattered windows and busted headlights as a barrage of large, unforgiving hail pummeled the region during a round of severe thunderstorms.
While no significant injuries were reported, those who found themselves caught in the hail cores are now facing costly repairs.
According to NWS meteorologists, any hailstone measuring 1 inch or more is considered severe and on Wednesday, some hailstones were estimated to be between 2 and 4 inches in diameter, with some possibly even larger in isolated cases.
“They’re bigger than baseballs and going through the windshield,” FOX Weather Exclusive Storm Tracker Brandon Copic said over the radio to fellow chasers.
FOX Weather’s Corey Gerken was near Dimmitt, Texas, when his vehicle’s paint job was ruined, then eventually the windshield.
Fortunately, all appeared to be in good spirits afterward – chalking it up as just another day on the job.
Hail Size Chart
(FOX Weather)
NOAA’s Storm Prediction highlighted parts of Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas as being under a Level 2 out of 5 severe weather risk, with hail and damaging winds being the primary concerns.
Midland slammed by 112 mph wind gust Tuesday
One of the strongest cells hit Midland, Texas, with what the National Weather Service said brought a severe wind gust that may have even topped 100 mph, thanks to a potential “virga bomb.” When a thunderstorm’s heavy rains fall into super-dry air, the rain can evaporate, cooling the air and making it rush to the ground at extreme speeds.
A wall cloud looms over Fort Stockton, Texas, on April 22, 2025.
(Brandon Copic)
Parts of the Southern Plains were slammed with severe storms Tuesday evening, the first of a two-day severe weather threat for parts of the region.
The official wind gauge at Midland Airport briefly recorded a peak gust of 112 mph. The NWS will have to verify such an extreme wind speed report, but said there were certainly strong wind gusts observed near the storm.
Flash flooding has been observed in various areas in west Texas, as some roads are covered by six inches of rushing water, according to the National Weather Service.
Another strong thunderstorm slowly rolled through Fort Stockton, Texas, where wind gusts were clocked at 68 mph as a severe-warned storm moved through the area. The city recorded 0.78 inches of rain in just one hour on Tuesday evening.
Another gust reached 63 mph in Lakeview, according to National Weather Service spotter reports.
Tuesday night brought a wild hailstorm to the Austin, Texas, suburbs. Georgetown was hit hard by quarter-sized hail, leaving damage to cars.
Some areas, such as Sanderson, Texas, reported baseball-sized hail measuring over two and a half inches according to the National Weather Service.
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FOX Weather Storm Tracker Brandon Copic happened upon a landspout tornado as he was tracking storms in west Texas Tuesday.
A repeat of the severe storms will be in place on Thursday too as the dryline makes forward progress once again in the afternoon.
HOW TO PROTECT YOUR VEHICLE FROM A HAILSTORM
Flooding also a concern as region braces for rounds of rain
Severe weather is possible across portions of the Plains starting on Tuesday, but residents in the region also need to prepare for the possibility of flooding due to relentless rounds of rain in the forecast. FOX Weather Meteorologists Britta Merwin and Kendall Smith break down the forecast on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.
It’s not only the severe weather threat that has people on alert. Flooding, too, is a concern as the region braces for rounds of torrential rain this week.
“Multiple locations are going to be under the threat for flash flooding as we head into the next several days,” FOX Weather Meteorologist Kendall Smith warned. “The soil moisture in some areas, and I say some, because some areas are very wet and others it’s the opposite – very dry.”
Many areas could see 2-3 inches of rain with isolated spots reaching 5 inches. Those amounts won’t completely eradicate the dry conditions, but will be beneficial.
