Hailstorms are astonishing natural phenomena, combining beauty and destruction. In this article, we will take a look at the world’s biggest hailstorms. From record-breaking hailstones size to the resulting damage, these hailstorms impacted the following areas:
- Italy
- Germany
- India
- Australia
- Mexico
- Bangladesh
- Turkey
- USA
- Argentina
- Canada
- Libya
Join us as we explore these natural disasters and their significance in the world of weather. For more information about hailstones and their formation, see our article How Does Hail Form.
Northern Italy (July 2023)
After a heat wave that had set new records in Rome, northern Italy faced a severe hailstorm in July 2023. Huge chunks of ice bigger than tennis balls with a diameter of over 4 inches (10 cm) fell in some areas, local officials said. Treviso, a city near Venice, saw hailstones over 6 inches (15 cm), which challenged European records. Over 100 people were injured by hail storm.
Image source: Tornado in Italia Facebook
In Seregno, a town near Milan, an icy river flooded the streets with ice pieces. A small tornado was also spotted in Milan. Local media said firefighters in Milan had to deal with damaged buildings and fallen trees after the storm.
Image source: Euronews
Munich, Germany (July 1984)
This catastrophic hailstorm struck Munich in 1984, unleashing ice crystals the size of tennis balls. The storm caused significant damage to vehicles, houses, and infrastructure, resulting in one of the costliest hail-related disasters in Europe’s history. The financial hailstorm damage amounted to EUR 750 million in insurance and reinsurance market loss at the time, which is approximately EUR 2 billion today.
Moradabad, India (April 1888)
Known as the Great Hailstorm of Moradabad, this event struck northern India in 1888 and left a path of destruction. Hailstones measuring up to 1.5 pounds (0.7 kg) pounded the region, damaging crops, livestock, and property. It was one of the most deadly and devastating hailstorms, which killed 246 people.
Sydney, Australia (April 1999)
The Sydney Hailstorm was a supercell thunderstorm that threw hailstones the size of cricket balls on Australia’s largest city. Buildings, cars, and infrastructure suffered a lot of harm from the storm. The financial losses amounted to about AUD 23 billion in damage.
Image source: Daniel at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Guadalajara, Mexico (June 2019)
This hailstorm shocked the residents of Guadalajara, Mexico when they woke up to find the city blanketed in ice. Pieces of ice as large as baseballs covered the streets. The ice storm damaged almost 200 buildings and caused dozens of cars to be carried away by the icy flood in areas with slopes.
Image source: Ulises Ruiz/AFP/Getty Images
Gopalganj, Bangladesh (March 1986)
The Gopalganj hailstorm caused devastation in in Bangladesh, with hailstones reaching the size of grapefruits. The storm killed at least 92 people and harmed crops, houses, and infrastructure, impacting the livelihoods of local communities. This storm also produced very large hail, including the world’s heaviest hailstone weighing 2.25 pounds (1 kg).
Istanbul, Turkey (July 2017)
One of the unprecedented hail events hit Istanbul, Turkey, surprising residents with golf ball size hail. The hail caused flash flooding as well as damaged roofs and vehicles, including airplanes landing at Istanbul Atatürk Airport.
Image source: Severe Weather Turkey
Denver, USA (May 2017)
The Denver Hailstorm of 2017 stands as one of the costliest hailstorms in US history. The storm produced hail stones ranging in size from golf balls to baseballs. Insurance claims surpassed $2.3 billion, making it one of the most financially damaging hailstorms on record.
Image source: Victoria Sanchez, KUSA
Vivian, USA (July 2010)
A severe thunderstorm formed over some parts of central South Dakota on July 23, 2010. The storm brought a lot of damage in the community of Vivian. There were large hail stones, strong winds up to 80 mph (128 km/h), and a short-lived tornado. Additionally, one of the largest hailstones ever was discovered in Vivian. It was 8 inches (20 cm) across and weighed almost 2 pounds (about 1 kg). This officially makes it not only the largest hailstone in U.S. but also the world’s largest hailstone on record.
Image source: Wikipedia
Other record-breaking hailstone sizes in the USA are as follows (by state):
| State | Size | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 5.38” | 2018 |
| Hawaii | 4.25” | 2012 |
| Illinois | 4.75” | 2015 |
| Kansas | 7.75” | 2010 |
| Minnesota | 6.0” | 1968 |
| Oklahoma | 6.0” | 2011 |
| Nebraska | 7.0” | 2003 |
| Wisconsin | 5.7” | 1921 |
Córdoba, Argentina (February 2018)
A powerful supercell thunderstorm formed over some parts of central South Dakota on July 23, 2010. The storm brought a lot of damage in the community of Vivian. There were large hail stones, strong winds up to 80 mph (128 km/h), and a short-lived tornado. Additionally, the hailstone with the biggest diameter ever was discovered in Vivian. It was 8 inches (20 cm) across and weighed almost 2 pounds (about 1 kg). This official record makes it the world’s largest hailstone.
Image source: Victoria Druetta
Calgary, Canada (June 2020)
The Calgary Hailstorm of 2020 brought unprecedented destruction to the northeast communities of the city. The storm brought hailstones of varying sizes, with some reaching the size of tennis balls. The impact was severe, causing an estimated $1.3 billion in insurable damages. The Insurance Bureau of Canada says this is a natural disaster with the fourth highest cost in the nation’s history.
Tripoli, Libya (October 2020)
A supercell storm with a huge hail hit Tripoli, the capital of Libya, on Oct 27th, 2020. There were giant hail stones, about 7 inches (18 cm) across. The storm happened when a cold air mass moved over the Mediterranean Sea at night. It also caused a lot of destruction in the area. Many trees fell and ice chunks hit cars. The port of Tripoli was also damaged, some containers fell over in the port and in the water.
Image source: Saad Aldeen Hmouda, Severe Weather Europe
Fort Worth, USA (May 1995)
During the Mayfest festival in Fort Worth, a sudden hailstorm surprised the attendees, unleashing hailstones up to 4 inches (10 cm) in diameter. These huge chunks of ice caused extensive damage to structures, cars, and the festival infrastructure, leading to an estimated $2 billion in financial losses. Four people died and hundreds were injured. This event remains one of the costliest historical hailstorms.
Conclusion
Severe storms of hail can unleash incredible power, leaving behind a trail of destruction. As we continue to study these fascinating weather phenomena, we strive to improve our preparedness and mitigate the impacts of hail damage on our lives and communities.
