Pineapple-sized hailstone found in Texas, to set new state record

Storm chasers in the Texas Panhandle in the US found a massive hailstone, which could be a potential state record breaker.

Storm chasers, Val and Amy Castor, found the hailstone measuring over 7 inches long near Vigo Park when following a severe thunderstorm on Sunday (June 2).

“I’ve been chasing storms for more than 30 years and that’s the biggest hail I’ve ever seen,” Castor was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.

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Recalling the incident, Castor said that while driving, a severe baseball-sized hailstone fell, with one cracking the windshield, before the massive hailstone on the side of the road.

“I could see it from probably 100 yards away,” Castor informed.

The newly discovered, massive hailstone could shatter the current Texas record. Measuring over 7 inches, it dwarfs the previous champion – a 6.4-inch hailstone which was found in Hondo in 2021.

However, a team of researchers along with Texas state climatologist needs to verify its size before it's officially crowned the new winner. This confirmation is still pending, according to Jordan Salem, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Lubbock.

Taking to X, the National Weather Service in Lubbock stated, "The wait is almost over! Here is the latest information on the 7" hailstone found by Storm Chaser Val Castor in Vigo Park. If this becomes an official record, it will shatter the previous record of 6.416" from Hondo, Texas, in 2021!"

The largest hailstone ever found in the United States measured 11 inches in diameter and weighed nearly two pounds.

This remarkable discovery was made near Vivian, South Dakota, in July 2010, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information.

(With inputs from agencies)