Heavy hail fell across parts of Kansas and Missouri Wednesday night, snarling traffic along Interstate 70 and potentially spawning tornadoes, prompting meteorologists to urge residents to stay indoors. I called on them to stay.
At least one unconfirmed tornado was reported to have touched down in Altavista, Kansas, on Wednesday, according to media reports.
The National Weather Service in Topeka said quarter-sized hail and wind gusts up to 60 mph are expected overnight through 6 a.m. Thursday across northern Kansas.
The hailstones ranged in size from golf balls and apples to softballs and baseballs.
AccuWeather senior meteorologist Alex Sosnowski previously said the predicted hail was considered “gorilla hail” because it could be so large.
Sosnowski said the term “gorilla hail” was coined by Reid Timmer, a storm chaser who calls himself an extreme meteorologist. In this case, this term may apply. Some hailstones from north-central Kansas to north-central Missouri could be as large as baseballs.
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“Getting close to a baseball-sized tennis ball or a softball-sized tennis ball can cause significant damage, and a hit to the head can be fatal,” Sosnowski said.
Traffic was temporarily halted on portions of Interstate 70 due to hail, the National Weather Service announced on X-News.
Footage of large hailstones and at least one cracked windshield was shown on KSHB-TV.
Late Wednesday, forecasters issued a tornado warning for areas around and north of Topeka, and a severe thunderstorm warning northeast of Kansas City, Missouri.
“If you are under this warning, move away from windows and shelter in place now!!!” the National Weather Service posted on X (formerly known as Twitter).
The weather service said the storm had previously produced “softball-sized hail,” or 3.5-inch chunks.
The weather service also issued a severe thunderstorm watch for parts of Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Kansas until Thursday morning, after which forecasters said the storm would move east.
On Thursday, the hail threat eased, but meteorologists said heavy rain and strong winds were still possible from northeast Texas to central Missouri.
The biggest threat on Friday is heavy rain, possibly up to 4 inches in some places, from central Louisiana to central Arkansas, Sosnowski said.
