The Top Ten Worst Hailstorms in Texas History
As the phrase goes, "everything's bigger in Texas," although
it may not necessarily be a positive thing. The Hailstorms in Texas are
some of the most damaging on the record. With hailstones estimated to
be as comprehensive as 8 inches in diameter, Texas has set records for
some of the most expensive years in the history of hailstorm destruction.
Via testing and data collection, the Texas Hailstorm Injury Attorneys at
Dick Law Firm has assembled a compilation of hailstorms that have gone
down to be the very worst that Texans have ever experienced.
The Top Ten Worst Hailstorms in Texas History (Adjusted For Inflation)
#10 6 June 2018, Carrolton, Texas – $625 million (2019 – $639 million)
In the early morning hours of June 6, Carrolton, Texas, experienced the
brunt of an awful hailstorm that shook areas of the Dallas – For
Worth city with a 3-inch hailstone diameter.
#9 March 29, 2012, McAllen, Texas – $600 million (2019 – $670 million)
The storm that set off the new tradition of Texas hailstorm injuring lawyers
at Dick Law Company, McAllen, was struck by the most significant hailstorm
ever reported in the Rio Grande Valley. With the aid of 75 MPH waves,
hailstones the size of baseball were frequently pounded on roofs.
#8 – 23 March 2016, Plano, Texas – $700 million (2019 –
$748 million)
Thunderstorms formed late Wednesday afternoon and Wednesday evening along
a dry line as it climbed east to Interstate 35. Several of these storms
were extreme, causing destructive winds, hail, and tornados. In northern
Tarrant County, the tornado storm continued to drop massive hail. It headed
east to the north of Dallas and southern Collin County, causing around
$700 million in cumulative hail loss.
#7 – April 3, 2012, Dallas – Ft. Worth, Texas – $775
million ($866 million in 1919)
A historic outbreak of tornados in North Texas occurred on April 3, with
22 tornadoes developing. In addition to the tornadoes, several areas of
the DFW Metroplex have been hit by large hails. Approximately 110 aircraft
at DFW International Airport were destroyed by hail and put out of operation
before repairs were produced. There were no deaths, and 29 people were wounded.
#6 – 3 April 2014, Denton, Texas – $850 million (2019 –
$921 million)
Strong to extreme thunderstorms formed ahead of a dry line passing through
the area. These storms were hail producers and primarily impacted areas
mainly along and north of US 380 from Decatur to Sulfur Springs. The worst
harm was incurred in Denton, where hail up to the size of softballs caused
nearly (at the time) $850 million in damage. There have already been three
tornadoes in this system.
#5 – 13 June 2012, Dallas – Fort Worth, Texas – $890
million (2019 – $995 million)
Four supercells also created a record-setting hail incident and one tornado
throughout areas of North Texas. Two of the four supercells reported across
Dallas County, causing over $890 million in hail damage at the time. The
hail in Dallas County varied in sizes up to three in diameter. In certain
places, the hail persisted for at least 30 minutes. Tens of thousands
of vehicles were destroyed by the hail, the windows were smashed, the
roofs were damaged, and the leaves shattered the trees.
#4 – April 5, 2003, North Texas-$885 million (2019 – $1.23 billion)
Three storm supercells carried with them massive quantities of hail that
pelted all over North Texas, including the Dallas – Fort Worth area,
causing losses above (at the time) $885 million. At least three people
were wounded by the massive hail that fell during the incident, and various
roofs, gutters, walls, aircraft, cars, and trees were destroyed. The damage
costs of these storms are expected to begin to increase over the coming
weeks and months.
#3 April 28, 1992, Fort Worth—Waco, Texas—$750 million (2019—$1.37 billion)
On April 28, 1992, the evening carried with it one of the most destructive
hailstorms of all time, spanning two regions about 100 miles apart. For
about five hours, people between Waco and Fort Worth braced when hailstones
the size of grapefruits (4.5 in. in. in diameter) broke window glass and
decimated roofs.
At this point, no other Texas hail storm in modern history has ever come
similar to the amount of destruction that had happened that spring night.
#2 – April 12, 2016, San Antonio, Texas – $1.4 billion (2019
– $1.5 billion)
The high-level low-pressure area across the Southwest Plateau coupled with
a persistent front to generate thunderstorms throughout South Central
Texas. Any of these storms also created significant giant hail. The strongest
hail storm swept across northern Bexar County and reached the north part
of San Antonio. The thunderstorm produced 4.5-inch hail between Tezel
Rd. and Bandera Rd. in the northwest of San Antonio. This was linked to
the biggest hailstone ever recorded in Bexar County. The amount of destruction
in San Antonio is projected at $1.4 billion, rendering it the most costly
hailstorm in Texas's history before inflation. Estimates issued by
the Texas Insurance Council entail harm to 136,000 cars and 125,000 residences.
#1 – May 5, 1995, North Texas – $1.1 billion (2019 –
$1.85 billion)
Also recognized as the 1995 Mayfest Storm, just after 5:30 PM CDT, the
thunderstorm formed quickly on the Palo Pinto/Parker County line ahead
of the intense squall line over the western part of northern Texas. This
storm soon turned extreme, producing 18-inch golf-ball-size hail across
the southern part of Parker County and flickering floods resulting in
two deaths. The storm began to escalate as it traveled to Tarrant County
about 7:00 PM CDT, generating baseball-sized hail in Benbrook. As the
storm swept east-northeast through Fort Worth, softball-sized hail was
recorded in a variety of areas. At Mayfest, a massive outdoor festival
in Trinity Park in Fort Worth, an estimated 10,000 people were trapped
in the open with no shelter available. Hail up to softball-size hurt several
people. The storm proceeded to travel east-northeast through Tarrant County,
triggering significant hail, wind disruption, and flash floods culminating
in flooding, with one flash of flood death. At 7:48 PM CDT, when the system
started to pass through Dallas County, the squall line to the west mixed
with a strong thunderstorm. The merger culminated in record rainfall and
significant flash floods the rest of the night around Dallas County, with
17 people drowning and several trapped by high water. Complete estimated
damage across Parker, Tarrant, and Dallas counties from this storm is
estimated at over $1.85 billion in inflation changes, rendering it the
most costly hail storm in Texas history.
YOU CAN OBTAIN A HIGHLY SKILLED INSURANCE LAWYER
If your insurance company has refused to honor your policy despite having
a valid claim, you can recover damages based on "bad faith."
At Dick Law Firm, PLLC, we are committed to fighting for the total compensation
you deserve. When you retain our services, we fight to protect your rights
as a policyholder.
Hiring a highly-skilled property insurance attorney will help by:
- Significantly increases the value of your claim
- Learning all of the ins and outs of your policy
- Helping you navigate the claims process and negotiations
- Validating the cause and extent of the damage
- Informing you if a claim denial is valid
- Notifying you of all relevant insurance laws
If you have been mistreated or wronged by your insurance company, you can
count on us to do everything possible to rectify the situation. We aim
to resolve a claim as efficiently and effectively as possible.
Please speak with our team
at 833-7RIGHTS today!
Consultations
are FREE.
