How Locals Prepare for Hailstorms in Hail Alley

As a native Texan, Michael James Nuells is no stranger to hailstorms. Growing up in Victoria, Texas, he's seen hail stones of all shapes and sizes, and he's been hit by his fair share as well.

"Although not the greatest experiences I've ever been a part of, they have certainly been fascinating and entertaining to witness firsthand," says Nuells.

One particular hailstorm stands out to Nuells though because it made a lasting impact, literally. He was driving on the freeway when it suddenly turned from sunny to stormy, and hail began to fall.

"I truly thought my eyes were playing tricks on me, and maybe I was in the middle of watching a Hollywood weather storm scene play out, but no, it was very real," says Nuells.

"I wasn't able to make it back into my car before a few golf ball and baseball-sized pieces hit me directly in my left shoulder blade and on the back right side of my head," continues Nuells. "The immediate pains were so unbearable that I almost called an ambulance for assistance. I started to feel faint and like I was going to pass out."

The injuries Nuells sustained are visible to this day. He says you can see a permanent bump protruding from his left shoulder blade and on the back right side of his head.

Hailstorms can occur anywhere, but severe hail, or hail that's at least .75 inches in diameter, is most common in west Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska and Wyoming, otherwise known as "Hail Alley". Peak hailstorm season is typically during the month of June, but all the summer months are primed for hail activity due to the increase in severe thunderstorms.

"Most thunderstorms have hail, but not all of them produce hail that reaches the ground," says Christopher Dolce, meteorologist for weather.com. "Many times the hail melts before reaching the ground. Hail is formed when raindrops are carried by rising air in thunderstorms called updrafts to cold areas high in the atmosphere. Those droplets collide with other surrounding droplets and allow the hail to grow in size. Stronger thunderstorms typically produce larger hail."

Hail isn't just dangerous — it can be extremely costly for property owners. In fact it's considered one of the costliest of weather events. Within the last decade, hail has resulted in annual damage costs as high as $22 billion in the United States. And scientists say the last decade has shown a trend towards larger hailstones, meaning more costly damages.

Maryann Lowry of Dallas, Texas knows what damage from severe hail can look like. One day when a major hailstorm hit, she was outside for an event, but when people started getting storm alerts, everyone quickly left for home. By the time she got to her house, her cable had already gone out. Pretty soon, the local storm sirens started to sound. Since she wasn't sure if it was for a tornado or hailstorm, she went to shelter in her bedroom closet.

"As I sat there looking for something soft to shelter my body, it suddenly sounded like three baseball teams were hurling baseballs as hard as they could. It was scary," recalls Lowry. Then it came to an abrupt halt. Looking outside when I returned to my bedroom window, I could see golf ball to baseball-size hail stones."

Lowry didn't sustain any damage to her windows or have any noticeable leaks, but she was told by a reputable roofer that she'd need a new roof. Hail as small as 1 inch (quarter-size) can cause enough roof damage that the whole thing needs to be replaced, which can run a homeowner $5,000 to $10,000. Thankfully, her insurance covered the cost, but that's just one of many property expenses one can endure during an intense hailstorm.

How to prepare for hail

Nuells retains lessons learned from his parents: "Stay indoors during the storm from start to finish, close all windows, shades, doors, etc. to prevent any types of debris from coming inside of your home, be sure to park all cars inside of garages and/or under covered areas if available."

Basically, it's all the things you'd want to do before a tornado or any severe thunderstorm, however, making sure your car is covered is key as it can take a beating from hail stones.

"If you have time to do so safely, pull your vehicle into a garage, carport or parking garage when a severe thunderstorm warning for your area mentions hail, no matter the size," says Dolce.

Golfball-sized hail (1.75 inches) can leave dents in your car and crack your windshield.

If you happen to be driving when a hailstorm hits, one thing Dolce says you should avoid is seeking shelter under an underpass. It may be tempting to do as it will shield your vehicle, but it will create a dangerous bottleneck for all the other drivers on the road trying to get to a safer location.

After the storm, take pictures of any damage your property sustains as soon as you can so you can show them to a claims adjuster should you need to.

A hailstorm is an incredible weather phenomenon, but one that should always be considered a potentially serious threat. Take it from the people who've been hit hardest by them.