A hailstone measuring over 7″ found by storm chaser Val Castor in Vigo Park on June 2, could potentially shatter the previous record of 6.416″ from Honda, Texas in 2021.
On the evening of Sunday, June 2, 2024, a supercell thunderstorm developed and intensified near Happy, Texas in northern Swisher County with strong mid-level rotation rapidly developing.
The cyclonic rotation strengthened and lowered as the storm began its trach east-southeast towards the Vigo Park community. The extreme lift with the storm’s updraft was able to generate giant hail in the vicinity of Vigo Park.
In addition, the storm produce a tornado which traveled over open country after passing the community.
Storm chaser Val Caster was in the vicinity of Vigo Park as he was chasing the intense supercell where he came across a giant hailstone on the ground.
Picture were then taken and were measured with a Nitro Monster Energy Drink can and a work glove.
The pictures were sent in to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration / National Weather Service – Lubbock, Texas, and were then shared with the Insurance Institute of Business and Home Safety (IBHS).
IBHS is a scientific research group that works on weather related damage of buildings from hail and wind to help improve resiliency.
After further evaluation of the pictures of the hailstone, the group found the hailstone to measure just over 7inches in diameter, which would shatter the current state record of 6,416 inches from Hondo, Texas, in 2021.
Before any official record can be released, the Texas State Climatologist, Dr. John Nielsen Gammon will have to verify the measurements of the hailstone and conduct further research on the event.
