When Hailstones Grow to Grapefruit Size

There is something almost mythological in the language we use for spring storms—monster hail, wild winds, freak weather—as if the atmosphere itself has abandoned its usual restraint and decided to remind us what it is capable of. Across the central United States this spring, that reminder has arrived with unusual force, delivering hailstones the size of grapefruits, winds that downed trees and power lines across multiple states, and a pattern of severe weather that has kept communities bracing for the next round before the debris from the last one had been cleared.

The most striking feature of the 2026 severe weather season has been the size of the hail. In Springfield, Missouri, hailstones up to 12 centimeters—nearly five inches—in diameter fell across the city, causing widespread damage to cars and prompting early estimates that it would be the costliest hailstorm in Springfield’s history . In Illinois, a supercell storm dropped a hailstone measuring 6.0 inches in Kankakee, which, if confirmed, would break the state’s previous record of 4.75 inches . A separate stone measuring 4.8 inches was recorded in Darien .

The physics behind such enormous hailstones is well understood. They form in thunderstorms with powerful updrafts, where ice particles are repeatedly lifted through layers of supercooled water, accumulating layers of ice until they become too heavy for the updraft to hold . What is less routine is the frequency and geographic spread of these events. States that typically see severe weather in the southern Plains—Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas—have been joined this year by communities in Illinois, Missouri, and Wisconsin, where large hail is less common and preparedness may be lower .

The human and economic costs are accumulating. At least one person was killed by 105 mph winds in Springtown, Texas, and multiple tornadoes caused significant damage across the region . In Kankakee, Illinois, a tornado killed two people and left a third dead days later . Power outages affected hundreds of thousands, with utility crews working through the night to restore service . Greenhouses and garden centers, already in the midst of spring planting season, reported devastating losses to hail damage .

For meteorologists, the pattern reflects a classic clash of Gulf moisture, Canadian cold air, and a strong jet stream—but the frequency and intensity this year have produced unusually widespread damage . The severe weather season is broadening north and east earlier than usual, and hail is acting as a co-equal hazard alongside tornadoes, not merely a side note .

The 2026 spring storm season is not yet over. Forecasters warn that additional rounds of severe weather are possible as the system continues to shift. For communities across the central United States, the work of repair and recovery continues, one shattered windshield and one damaged roof at a time.

AI Image Disclaimer: All images associated with this report were generated by artificial intelligence and are intended for illustrative purposes only, not as documentary records of the storm damage described.

Sources: The Guardian, Daily Mail, WeatherNation, Newsweek, Climate Cosmos