07.31.10
Record Breaking Hailstone
Last Friday, on July 23rd, a record-breaking 8-inch-diameter hailstone fell in Vivian, South Dakota.
This hailstone measured 18.625 inches in circumference and weighed 1.9 pounds!
Reports from eyewitnesses describe hailstones even larger than this in the area, some possibly as large as 11 inches in diameter.
The largest hailstone previous to this was 7 inches in diameter, 18.75 inches in circumference, weighed 1.6 pounds, and was found in Aurora, Nebraska in 2003.
For photos and more information, check out the following links:
July 23rd Storm Reports and Pictures of Large Hail (NWS Aberdeen)
Vivian Hail Officially Sets Record (Severe Studios)
Vivian Residents Relate Tales of Massive Hailstorm (Mitchell Daily Republic)
Overview of Thunderstorm Producing Record Hailstone (Patrick Marsh’s blog)