Grapefruit Sized Hail Sparks Warning for Two States

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a high-risk severe weather outlook, the highest possible level of alert, for Oklahoma and Kansas on Monday as a storm system threatened tornadoes and grapefruit-sized hail.

The forecast comes only a week after several large tornadoes battered Oklahoma, causing injuries and damage. A bout of severe weather has also recently struck Texas, bringing severe flooding. The incoming storm will hit this afternoon, according to an NWS report.

“A regional outbreak of severe weather with multiple strong, long-tracked tornadoes, as well as very large hail and severe thunderstorm gusts, is expected over parts of the south-central Plains from this afternoon through evening,” the NWS warning said.

Meteorologists are warning area residents to establish a safety plan and be aware of severe weather as the new system moves in.

“A level 5 out of 5 HIGH RISK of tornadoes has been drawn across Oklahoma and Kansas,” meteorologist Matthew Cappucci posted on X, formerly Twitter. “This is the most severe risk category the @NWSSPC can deliver. Strong to violent long-track tornadoes are expected. Giant hail to grapefruit size is too.”

According to a webpage by the National Weather Service, grapefruit-sized hail has a diameter of 4.5 inches. Hail the size of grapefruits can cause extensive damage and is considered rare. CBS News reported that grapefruit hail can obliterate a shingle roof and damage the decking beneath after they tested the impacts of various hail sizes in March.

The NWS office in Norman, Oklahoma, issued a warning about the high-risk area on Monday morning.

“A dangerous atmospheric environment will be present today and there is now a HIGH risk for multiple tornadoes over north-central and into central OK. Plan now!” the office posted on X, with a map of the risk area.

Newsweek reached out to NWS Norman by phone for comment.

It is the first high-risk day alert since March 2023, and the first for the Oklahoma and Kansas region since May 2019.

“There it is. First high risk day in more than a year has been issued in Oklahoma & Kansas. Intense, long-track tornadoes likely this evening,” CBS Austin meteorologist Avery Tomasco posted.

“High risk just issued for southern Kansas and northern Oklahoma. Last time parts of this area saw a high risk was May of 2019,” CBS 12 meteorologist Lauren Olesky posted on X.

Safety measures for the high-risk area include scheduling your day so you are never more than 5 minutes from a below-ground shelter, keep cellphones charged, wear closed-toed shows to better climb over debris should a storm hit and ensure you have multiple ways of receiving warnings, not just relying on sirens.

In addition to the areas at a high-risk outlook, a moderate risk was imposed a wider region of Oklahoma and Kansas, an enhanced risk was imposed for Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri and Arkansas, with a slight and marginal risk expanding across much of the central U.S.