A severe thunderstorm with strong wind gusts and softball size hail hammered Del Rio Saturday night, causing extensive damage to vehicles, roofs and windows.
Neighbors throughout the city reported large hailstones, ranging from quarter size to golf ball and even softball size in their properties.
“Texas-sized” hailstorm in Del Rio, TX moments ago! At the time, this storm was warned for #hail as large baseballs (2.75 inches). ⚠️⚾️
— Nash from Nashville (@NashWX) April 12, 2020
Video sent in by: Julian Fuentes#weather #stormhour #txwx #wx pic.twitter.com/LrEKyXc8qj
A severe thunderstorm warning issued by the National Weather Service alerted residents of Kinney County, Val Verde County and South Central Texas area of the storm, encouraging everyone to seek shelter immediately.
These are giGANTIC pic.twitter.com/VaZUFPOsQZ
— Lucero (@lucerotrevi_) April 12, 2020
At 8:30 p.m the storm was located 12 miles east of Del Rio, moving east at 25 mph.
The storm carried a potential of 60-mile an hour wind gusts, the National Weather Service warning said.
LOOK: Check out this baseball-sized hail in Del Rio, which did damage overnight https://t.co/EcwgSsBxmG
— KABB FOX 29 (@KABBFOX29) April 12, 2020
The potential area of impact in the warning included the communities of Brackettville, Alamo Village, Standart, Amanda, Laughlin AFB, Escondido Estates and Fort Clark Springs.
Hail in Del Rio Texas last night! Omg! pic.twitter.com/E0M5ryPltS
— ? Pink Lady ? (TEXT TRUMP to 88022) (@pink_lady56) April 12, 2020
STWX Strategic Weather Consulting Meteorologist Dan Schreiber said the storm certainly had the capacity to create a tornado.
Baseball to Softball size hail in Del Rio @NWSSanAntonio pic.twitter.com/KMawRy1BFr
— Robert Luna (@RLunawx) April 12, 2020
“There were numerous reports of golf ball sized hail throughout Del Rio, and several reports of baseball to softball sized hail. This storm was rather non-discriminatory – it hit just about every part of town,” Schreiber said.
Destructive baseball sized hail in Del Rio (just over 200 miles west/southwest of Austin).
— Kristen Currie (@KristenCurrieTV) April 12, 2020
It’s going to be a LONG night. Please take this seriously, friends.
?: Maryvel Flores | Del Rio, TX pic.twitter.com/xo816lyYEL
Residents throughout the city, including the north side, east side and the downtown area reported extensive damages to their vehicles.
Hailstones in the Pulliam area were described by a homeowner as avocado size.
My brother showed me a pic of our friends car (he lives in Del Rio)
— Ashley (@CashleyGarza) April 12, 2020
Look at the size of the hail!!! pic.twitter.com/EvG7mwzmaM
The area near the Val Verde County Courthouse had lots of small branches down right after the storm.
At least 80 vehicles parked outside Hyundai of Del Rio, 1508 Veterans Blvd., sustained severe damages due to the hailstorm hammering Del Rio Saturday night.
Most of the vehicles had smashed sunroofs, broken windshields and deep dents on metal surfaces.
Vehicles parked outside Rays Auto Body and Best Western of Del Rio were also damaged.
The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning Sunday morning alerting area residents of strong west winds, capable of creating hazardous fire conditions. The winds could reach 20-30 miles per hour, with gusts up to 40 miles per hour in the wake of a cold front, the weather service alerted.
“A very dry air mass will surge into the area with relative humidity values dropping to the 10s and low 20s late this morning and afternoon. The combination of strong winds and low relative humidity values will create critical fire weather conditions.”
This is heartbreaking honestly. Just about every car at this dealership has been touched in some way by hail that came through Del Rio last night. pic.twitter.com/JsJqW3Qgsx
— Morgan Burrell (@Morgan_Burrell) April 12, 2020
The National Weather Service upgraded the fire weather watch to a red flag warning for the Rio Grande Plains and Val Verde County in their Sunday morning alert.
“Winds will rapidly decrease after 8 p.m. and humidity will slowly recover. However, another front arrives in the late evening, leading to shifty winds which could create additional concerns in the overnight hours should wildfires develop.
Meanwhile, more than 18 people have died after 2 extreme tornadoes wreak havoc in Louisiana and Mississippi on Easter Sunday. Have some deep prayers for them. More apocalyptic weather news on Strange Sounds and Steve Quayle. [Del Rio News Herald]
M 6.0 – 196km SE of Raoul Island, New Zealand
Latest of 6.0 quakes hit . We are going to have more than that soon. Be Prepared .. Food Shortages world wide.
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