What is 'gorilla hail' and how much damage can it do? - AS USA
Traffic was brought to a standstill in parts of Kansas and Missouri as residents were told to remain out of the storm by weather experts.
en.as.comHere are the latest updates I can share based on recent reporting:
- The term “gorilla hail” refers to unusually large hailstones described as being golf-ball to softball-sized, which can cause significant damage and hazardous travel conditions during severe storms in the Midwest U.S. This phenomenon has circulated in weather coverage mainly around Kansas and Missouri in recent years.[2][4]
- Reports in 2024 highlighted storms producing large hail that led to road closures, traffic standstills, and tornado warnings in parts of Kansas and Missouri, with hail described as ranging up to softball-sized or larger in some accounts.[3][4][2]
- Coverage from multiple outlets (including AP and local broadcasters) noted the National Weather Service advising people to shelter indoors and stay away from windows when such storms were in the area.[4][2]
If you’d like, I can pull in more recent articles from specific outlets (e.g., AP, NOAA) or summarize what meteorologists say about how “gorilla hail” forms and the typical regions at risk. I can also look up any current weather advisories for Los Angeles or nearby areas, though the term is most commonly associated with Midwest storm systems rather than California.
Would you like me to fetch the latest official forecasts or advisories for your area or a broader Midwest view?