Monster 7.1″ Hailstone Confirmed as Texas State Record
A massive hailstone measuring 7.1 inches in diameter has been confirmed as a new state record in Texas, nearly two years after it was discovered near Vigo Park. Initially mistaken as a discarded gallon of milk, a monster hailstone now holds a Texas state record!
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 track 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 produced a tornado which traveled over open country after passing the community.
Storm Chaser Val Castor was in the vicinity of Vigo Park as he was chasing the intense supercell where he came across a giant hailstone on the ground. Pictures were then taken and were measured with a Monster Energy Drink. If this becomes an official record it will shatter the previous record of 6.416″ 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. In April 2025, Five inches was measured out of Guthrie. That’s the town in Texas not Oklahoma. Everything is bigger in Texas right? Scroll down to see a possible 8 inches not confirmed that is not in Texas.
6″-8″ Hail Reported Across Illinois and Texas
Largest Hail reports from March 10, 2026 Severe Weather Outbreak (preliminary):
- Kankakee / Buckingham, Illinois: Unofficial report of hail up to about 5–6 inches in diameter from a violent supercell; if confirmed, this would be among the largest hailstones ever documented in Illinois.
- Darien, Illinois (Chicago southwest suburbs): Measured hail up to about 4.8 inches in diameter from a second supercell moving across the southern and western Chicago metro (Bolingbrook, Woodridge, Downers Grove, Westmont, Darien).
- Pontiac area, Illinois: Reports of softball‑size (around 4 inch) hail with tornadic storms in and near Pontiac.
- Wood County, Texas: Grapefruit‑size hail around 4 inches in diameter reported with severe storms in East Texas.
- Southern Michigan (Grand Rapids/southern Lower Peninsula): Large hail up to around 2 inches in diameter in some storms overnight.
- LARGEST EVER? “There is potential that we now have a new world record largest hail stone ever found in the United States! If confirmed by the NWS (it hasn’t yet) this would be an 8+ inch hail stone that has not been documented since the current record holder of Vivian, SD set in 2010 at 8 inches in diameter. If this is real, this is absolutely unprecedented for not just March, but Illinois in March!”
Six-inch diameter hailstone found northwest of Buckingham, Illinois, potentially breaking state record
A hailstone measuring five inches to six in diameter was discovered northwest of Buckingham in Kankakee County, Illinois, surpassing the previous state record of 4.75 inches. Reports of 5-6 inch hail also emerged from areas west and southeast of Kankakee, including measurements by meteorologists Landon Moeller and Matthew Cappucci. Multiple posts documented the severe thunderstorm producing these giant hailstones across northern Illinois.
What you can tell from Hail Stone Rings (Similar to Tree Rings)
Did you know that IF you were to cut a hailstone in half, you can get a pretty good idea how many times that hailstone went up and down in the storm. Each time it goes up again it gets a new “ring” as the water that melts freezes again. It’s sort of like tree rings. IF you cut down a tree, count the rings, that’s about how old the tree is in years. Same with a hailstone.
Ice doesn’t like to be easily cut. In the picture taken above they used a table saw to do a little science project to look at these rings.
Why the different looks to the layers? Well that’s because hail grows in different ways as it gets pushed through the clouds.
- Cloudy/White Layers (Dry Growth): Occur when supercooled water droplets freeze instantly upon contact in very cold, upper-level areas, trapping air bubbles.
- Clear/Dense Layers (Wet Growth): Occur in slightly warmer (but still below freezing) zones, where water spreads over the stone and freezes slowly, allowing air to escape.
Record-Breaking Hail: Oklahoma Storm Shatters Local Record
Oklahoma recently experienced a record-breaking hailstorm. The National Weather Service measured a hailstone at a staggering 5.25 inches, making it the largest on record for the area since the 1950s. This massive hailstone nearly broke the state record.
The storm caused significant damage, impacting approximately 170 cars at a local Nissan dealership. A dealership salesman with over 20 years of experience described it as the worst hailstorm he had ever witnessed. This event highlights the intensity of the severe thunderstorms that swept across Oklahoma and other parts of the Plains states and Midwest.
Other Oklahoma hailstones:
How Big Can Hailstones Get? Shocking Records from Around the World
- How hail forms: Hailstones start as small ice particles in the powerful updrafts of thunderstorms. As they swirl around in the cold upper atmosphere, they collect supercooled water droplets that freeze onto them, creating layers of ice. The stronger the updraft, the longer the hailstone stays suspended, growing larger.
- Hailstone sizes: Hailstones come in various sizes, and meteorologists use common objects for comparison:
- Pea-sized: About 1/4 inch in diameter
- Marble-sized: About 1/2 inch in diameter
- Grapefruit-sized: Around 4 inches in diameter
- Baseball-sized: Around 2.75 inches in diameter
- Record-breakers: The largest hailstone ever recorded in the US measured 8 inches in diameter and fell in Vivian, South Dakota. Grapefruit-sized hail is not uncommon in severe storms. While basketball-sized hail is incredibly rare, it’s not impossible under extreme conditions.
Nationwide Hail (United States) Records
- Largest Diameter: 8 inches, Vivian, South Dakota (July 23, 2010)
- Heaviest: 1.9375 pounds, Vivian, South Dakota (July 23, 2010)
World Hail Records
- Heaviest: 2.25 pounds (1.02 kg), Gopalganj District, Bangladesh (April 14, 1986)
Important Notes:
- Hailstone size is more commonly measured by diameter than circumference.
- Historical records of hailstone size can be less reliable due to changes in measurement methods and technology.
- The Gopalganj hailstorm in Bangladesh tragically resulted in 92 deaths.
Important to remember: Large hail, even the size of a baseball, can cause significant damage to property, crops, and can even be dangerous to people and animals caught outdoors. Head over to our Extreme Hail Tracker on this page and our map tracker here.