Severe weather season has arrived in Texas, and it’s already showing just how dangerous it can be. From high winds to flooding rains and even massive hailstorms, this year is off to a wild start—and there are still months of storms ahead.
One of the biggest weather threats right now is hail. It’s not only scary but also expensive. Hailstones can damage cars, break windows, destroy roofs, and ruin property left outside. If the hail is large enough, it can even injure animals and people.
How Big Can Hail Get in Texas?
We often hear about large hailstones during storm season. They can range in size from baseballs to softballs, and sometimes even as big as a grapefruit. That means up to 4.5 inches in diameter—enough to smash through windshields and tear apart rooftops.
But in some rare cases, hailstones grow even bigger, and in Texas, we’ve seen some record-breaking hail fall from the sky.
The Largest Hailstone in Texas History
The biggest hailstone ever recorded in Texas fell on June 2, 2024, in Vigo Park, and it shocked everyone who saw it. It wasn’t just big—it was massive.
Val Castor, a storm chaser, found the hailstone and measured it at 7.25 inches in diameter. To help people understand its size, he placed it next to a Monster Energy Drink can—and the hailstone made the can look tiny in comparison.
It was so big that people compared it to a pineapple falling from the sky. Imagine something that large, frozen solid, smashing into your house or your car. Thankfully, this kind of hail is rare, but it does happen—and it happened just last year in Texas.
The Previous Record and U.S. Comparison
Before this, the largest hailstone in Texas had been recorded just a few years earlier. But this new monster broke that record easily.
As for the largest hailstone in U.S. history, that title still belongs to Vivian, South Dakota, where a stone measuring 8 inches wide and weighing 1.95 pounds fell on July 23, 2010, according to Accuweather.
Stay Safe During Hail Season
As storm season continues in Texas, it’s important to stay alert. Hail can form very quickly during thunderstorms and can come down without much warning. Always watch the weather, keep your vehicles parked under shelter if possible, and stay indoors when storms roll in.
If hail is large enough, it can cause serious injuries or even be deadly. So take every warning seriously and prepare in advance when you know a storm is on the way.