When Ice Falls from the Sky
Texas leads the nation in hail damage, and for good reason. The state sits where Gulf moisture meets dry continental air, creating perfect conditions for severe thunderstorms that throw down large hail. If you're caught in the open when a hail storm hits, the consequences can be severe: injuries from golf ball to grapefruit-sized ice, damaged equipment, and injured or killed livestock.
Knowing your hail risks and having a plan for rapid shelter saves lives and prevents injuries.
Texas Hail Patterns and Season
"Hail Alley" runs from the Panhandle down through North Texas, but Central Texas sees frequent hail events too. The reality is that any area with severe thunderstorms can produce hail, and Texas gets plenty of those.
Hail Size and Danger
| Size | Common Description | Diameter | Fall Speed | Injury Potential |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pea | Pea-sized | 0.25" | ~20 mph | Minor |
| Marble | Marble-sized | 0.50" | ~35 mph | Painful |
| Quarter | Quarter | 1.0" | ~50 mph | Bruising, welts |
| Golf ball | Golf ball | 1.75" | ~70 mph | Serious injury |
| Baseball | Baseball | 2.75" | ~100 mph | Severe injury |
| Softball | Softball | 4.0" | ~115 mph | Life-threatening |
| Grapefruit | Grapefruit | 4.5"+ | ~125+ mph | Fatal possible |
Warning Signs of Hail
Storm Characteristics
Watch for a green or greenish tint to the sky, large dark cumulonimbus clouds, reports of hail nearby, and severe thunderstorm warnings. If a tornado warning has been issued, expect hail as well. Large hail frequently falls before tornado touchdown.
Time to React
You may have 5-15 minutes from visual observation of an approaching storm. If the storm is already overhead, you may only have seconds.
Shelter Options
Best Protection
A solid building is your best bet, followed by a vehicle, any covered structure, or equipment with an enclosed cab.
Vehicle Shelter
If you're caught in your vehicle, turn away from the storm if possible and get below window level. Cover yourself with a blanket, jacket, or floor mats and protect your face and head. Expect glass breakage in severe hail. Large hail will damage body panels, and injuries can occur from broken glass, but you're still far better off inside a vehicle than outside.
Emergency Shelter
When no building or vehicle is available, get behind equipment, trailers, or anything solid. Crouch and cover your head, face away from the storm direction, and protect your face, neck, and head. If you're completely caught in the open, cover your head and neck with your hands and arms and stay as low as possible.
When Working in the Field
Pre-Work Assessment
Check radar before heading to remote areas and keep a weather app active on your phone. Know your travel time to reach shelter, and identify the nearest buildings, vehicles, or structures before you start working.
During Threatening Weather
Don't wait to see hail falling. If a storm has a severe warning, it can produce hail at any time. Stay in your vehicle if one is available, and have a hardhat accessible for emergency use.
Livestock During Hail
Animal Response
Cattle will typically face away from the storm, and herds tend to bunch together. The animals at highest risk are livestock in small pens without cover, young animals, and any animals unable to move freely.
Protective Measures
Don't confine livestock without cover during storm season, and provide overhead shelter at working facilities. If a storm is approaching, open gates between pastures and move horses to available cover if time permits.
Hail Injuries to Livestock
Common hail injuries include eye injuries, head trauma, and broken legs from panicked running. After a storm passes, look for injuries (especially eyes and head), watch for delayed signs of trauma, and contact your vet for serious injuries.
Equipment and Property Protection
Vehicle Protection
Keep vehicle covers accessible when storms are in the forecast, but accept that replacement may be necessary after a severe event. Review your insurance for replacement value coverage.
Equipment
Outdoor equipment will sustain damage in a serious hail event. Prioritize getting expensive items with glass (trucks, equipment cabs) under cover when you can.
Structures
The most vulnerable parts of your structures are windows, asphalt shingles (which take serious damage), and siding. Metal roofing dents but generally survives.
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings
Responding to Alerts
Take severe thunderstorm warnings seriously. These storms cause real injury and damage. If a tornado warning accompanies the storm, take tornado shelter but prepare for hail as well.
When a warning is issued, stop outdoor work immediately, move inside or to a vehicle, stay away from windows, monitor for updates, and don't resume outdoor work until the storm passes.
First Aid for Hail Injuries
Common Injuries
The most common hail-related injuries are bruises and contusions, lacerations from broken glass, head injuries, and eye injuries.
Treatment
For bruises and contusions, monitor for signs of deeper injury and seek care for severe bruising. For cuts and lacerations, clean the wound and seek care for deep cuts. Head injuries warrant close attention: watch for concussion signs and seek immediate care for confusion, vomiting, or loss of consciousness. Any eye injury, even a minor one, needs professional evaluation, so cover the eye and seek care right away.
Insurance Considerations
Coverage Review
Review your policies for property coverage for hail damage, equipment coverage, and livestock coverage before storm season arrives.
Documentation
After a hail event, document the date, time, and approximate hail size. Keep damaged items when possible and report promptly to your insurance company.
Bottom Line
Texas leads the nation in hail events, so it's not a matter of if but when you'll deal with one. Golf ball-sized hail and larger causes serious injury, so take shelter warnings seriously. Any structure beats open exposure, and a vehicle is acceptable shelter even though you should expect glass damage.
Monitor weather during storm season because even 15 minutes of warning can save you. Livestock need shelter access during storm season, so don't confine animals without cover. A green sky is a warning sign that a hail-producing storm may be approaching, and hail often precedes tornadoes, so one warning means watching for both. After any hail event, document damage before cleanup for insurance purposes, and seek medical care after any blow to the head.
Related Articles
- Tornado Safety on the Ranch
- Lightning Safety for Outdoor Workers
- Weather Alert Systems
- Severe Weather Hub
Texas Resources
- National Weather Service: Severe thunderstorm warnings and tracking
- Texas Department of Insurance: Hail damage claims information
- Local Emergency Management: Storm alert systems
