Roads and yards coated with rare hail

AUSTIN (KXAN) - After a lengthy stretch of beautiful and quiet weather, the skies finally opened up in a big way. 

• Photos: Central Texas hail

A fast-moving storm system that originally developed over the Pacific Southwest moved through Central Texas Tuesday night. Severe thunderstorms plowed through many communities in the viewing area, bringing gusty winds, heavy downpours and -- more importantly -- significant hail.  

Hail stone sizes ranged from pea-sized at 0.25 inches to egg-sized at 2 inches. Even though the storms were moving at a rapid pace, many roads and yards were coated with rare hail accumulations. 

Northern Travis County and southern Williamson County, generally around the U.S. Highway 183 corridor, received the heaviest swath overnight.

Even though the rain event was brief, much-needed rainfall totals piled up as well. 

Most areas saw between 0.25 inches and 1.5 inches of rain accumulation, according to Lower Colorado River Authority reporting sites.

This will help with -- but certainly not completely solve -- the issues surrounding the moderate- to severe drought that still exists across the area.   

The spring season is generally the time of year when we see the highest concentration of severe weather.

Coincidentally, winter ended and spring began at 6:02 a.m. local time. That severe weather has settled down Wednesday morning, and we are looking at partly cloudy skies for the rest of the day.