HONDO, Texas — It's official! The state's largest hailstone fell in South Texas after severe storms this spring.

What You Need To Know

  • The hailstone fell near Hondo, Texas, on April 28, 2021

  • The record is now 6.416 inches and 1.26 pounds

  • The severe thunderstorm produced damaging winds, a tornado and very large hail

The hailstone fell 1 mile SSW of Hondo on the evening of April 28, 2021.

Hailstone being scanned and analyzed at the finder’s home in Hondo, Texas. (Photo by NWS Austin-San Antonio)

The initial supercell developed around Del Rio, crossing into Val Verde and Kinney counties, producing 2- to 3-inch hail.

Then a second supercell developed, taking a similar track and producing large hail.

As they merged over Highway 90 in Medina County, the updraft grew larger, intensifying the storm along the highway.

Large hail was reported in Sabinal, D’Hanis, Hondo and Castroville. 

Radar and Max Expected Hail Size from KEWX at 0037–0038 UTC 29 April 2021

Rotation increased, producing an EF1 tornado that tracked 1.8 miles, approximately 5 to 6 miles southeast of Hondo.

The storm continued to move over the northwest side of San Antonio, western New Braunfels and San Marcos with 1- to 2-inch hail.

Finally, the storm weakened over Austin but left wind and hail damage in its path.

A State Climate Extremes Committee met in May to confirm that the hailstone set records for Texas.

  • Hail circumference: 19.73 inches
  • Hail diameter: 6.416 inches
  • Hail weight: 1.26 pounds
  • Hail volume: 40.239 cubic inches

The hailstone set the inaugural SCEC record for the State of Texas in those four metrics.

The largest U.S. hailstone on record fell in Vivian, South Dakota, on July 23, 2010. It was 8 inches and nearly 2 pounds.