‘DVD size’: Insane picture shows new weather trend

Record-setting hail had pelted down in one US state this week, prompting a brand new weather warning.

Record-setting hail so big it required a new description has wreaked havoc in one US state this week, leading experts to issue a warning for “five inch hail” for the first time in over a decade.

Hail the size of DVDs hit communities in Texas on Tuesday, shattering windshields and leaving small craters in farmland.

Washington Post meteorologist Matthew Cappucci came across the enormous hail stones while storm chasing in Hockley County and reported it to the National Weather Service (NWS), who issued a warning for the five inch (12cm) diameter hail.

“Upon entering the storm, I had seen that hail as big as softballs was falling,” Mr Cappucci wrote in a piece for The Washington Post.

“An initial severe thunderstorm warning, issued at 5:26pm, warned of tennis-ball-size hail.”

Mr Cappucci later returned outside and discovered “even bigger hailstones” falling to the ground.

He used two hotel room keys, each measuring 3.375 inches (8.6cm) in length, to calculate the length of the hail before contacting the NWS.

The largest measured up to 4.89 inches (12.4cm).

“Giant hail to five inches in diameter was reported,” the NWS warned.

“HAZARD … DVD size hail and 60 km/h wind gusts.”

Giant hail measuring five inches hit Texas on Tuesday. Picture: Twitter@matthewcappucci

Mr Cappucci reported the hail to the National Weather Service. Picture: Twitter@matthewcappucci

Meteorologists are known, on rare occasions, to issue warnings for softball-sized hail, measuring four inches (10cm) or grapefruit-sized hail, measuring 4.5 inches (11.3cm).

But according to Mr Cappucci, it was the first time a warning had been issued for five inch hail in the US since at least 2010.

A video shared to social media shows Mr Cappucci filming the hail as it plummets on the ground.

“Gang, we just got grapefruit-sized hail here,” he said as he ran to collect samples.

Mr Cappucci handed over the hail to researchers, who confirmed one of the stones weighed a third of a pound (150 grams) with a diameter of 4.63 inches (11cm), beating out Hockley County’s previous record of 4.5 inches from 2012.

However, his stones did not measure up to the record breaking 6.4-inch (16.cm) hail stones which hit Texas in 2021.

Mr Cappucci collected the hail in a freezer before handing it over to researchers. Picture: Twitter@matthewcappucci

It was the first time a warning had been issued for five inch in the US hail since at least 2010. Picture: Twitter@matthewcappucci

Severe storm kills 24

The hail came a day after powerful storms swept across Texas and other US states, including Oklahoma, North Carolina and Missouri, during the US’ Memorial Day long weekend.

The storms – which produced tornadoes, hail, and damaging winds – left at least 24 dead and hundreds injured.

Falling trees killed at least two people in Kentucky while seven others lost their lives in Cooke County, Texas, where a tornado hit last Saturday.

A two year old and five year old child from the same family were among the seven killed.
The storms left a trail of destruction, damaging houses and leaving hundreds of thousands without power.

In a statement Sunday, President Joe Biden sent condolences for the people killed in the weekend storms.

“Jill and I are praying for those who tragically lost their lives as a result of devastating tornadoes that tore through Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma, leaving entire communities and leaving a path of destruction in their wake,” said Mr Biden.

More storms are expected to hit the US in the coming days.