Missouri Hailstorm: Unusual But Not Rare, Expert Says
- A severe hailstorm struck the Springfield, Missouri area on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, resulting in significant damage and, tragically, the death of a 21-year-old emu at Dickerson Park...
- The hailstorm caused injuries to drivers, knocked out power to thousands of residents, and damaged hundreds of vehicles and even some aircraft.
- Adam, the emu, died from head trauma after being struck by the hail.
A severe hailstorm struck the Springfield, Missouri area on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, resulting in significant damage and, tragically, the death of a 21-year-old emu at Dickerson Park Zoo. The storm produced hailstones as large as softballs, measuring up to 4.75 inches (12 centimeters) in diameter, according to the Associated Press.
The hailstorm caused injuries to drivers, knocked out power to thousands of residents, and damaged hundreds of vehicles and even some aircraft. Eric Gockel, a driver who waited out the storm along a highway, described his windshield as being “battered” by the hail, but stated he was “blessed that I came out unscathed.”
Adam, the emu, died from head trauma after being struck by the hail. Despite attempts by zoo staff to move animals indoors, emus have a natural instinct to lie down and take cover during severe weather. A 17-year-old rhea at the zoo was also injured but is expected to recover after receiving pain medication, zoo spokesperson Joey Powell said in an email to the Associated Press.
Unusual, But Not Unheard Of
While the severity of the storm was exceptional, Alan Gerard, a former NOAA meteorologist and founder of the newsletter Balanced Weather, stated that hailstorms of this magnitude are “unusual” but “not unheard of” in Missouri at this time of year. The storm was a “supercell”—a rotating thunderstorm capable of producing severe weather, including tornadoes and large hail. According to Gerard, supercells can sometimes “split” into two storms, with the left-moving storm posing a higher risk of producing very large hail, which was the case in Springfield.
The National Weather Service in Springfield noted that the storm was the worst to hit the city in recorded history, though it did not surpass the state record of 6-inch hailstones recorded in 2004 near Maryville. Meteorologist Mark Burchfield explained that the storm’s intensity was due to significant wind shear and energy, allowing the hailstones to remain aloft for an extended period.
Severe spring weather is currently impacting the South and Midwest. Emergency management officials have described the Springfield hailstorm as the worst in the city’s history.
The Dickerson Park Zoo remains closed following the storm.