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Hail Storms Reminder of Severe Weather Threats This Season

Ted
/
Flickr

The softball-sized hail storm that left excessive property damage in North Texas this week may have some concerned of similar threats in the Ozarks.

“It’s not unusual to get quarter, maybe half dollar sized hail, but at least in recent memory, nothing even comparable to the two, three, four inch hail stones that fell in the Dallas Area.”

Robert Frye is a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Springfield. He says that it takes a certain mixture of “ingredients” to produce a storm like that in the Dallas area. There would have to be warm, moist wind coming up from the Gulf of Mexico, and cooler, dryer air coming from Canada. When those meet in a low pressure system it’s a catalyst for major storms.

North Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas will typically see more of these types of storms, but the remnants can move into parts of Missouri.

“Unfortunately, in terms of say your home, it’s going to take a beating in that sort of situation. You’re going to have some roof damage, some window damage, even siding damage, so in terms of your home, there isn’t much you can do,” says Frye.

Frye says the quarter-sized hail that usually falls in the Ozarks would affects cars the most. It could crack or break windows, and leave small dents on the body of vehicles.

There isn’t much you can do to protect property during a hail storm, but Frye says there are a few precautions you can take. He says it’s important to contact your insurance agent to see if there is a type of insurance to cover hail damage.

He adds, “The best plan of action is to stay informed. Know when you have severe weather in the forecast, and plan for it. If you’re going to bed and there’s severe weather in the forecast, it might be a good idea to bring the car in just in case.”

According to records from the National Weather Service in Springfield, the most recent hail storm to hit the area was in Benton County at Cole Camp earlier this week.

View the current weather forecast and conditions from NWS here.