AUSTIN (KXAN) — March 25 is a day that Austin meteorologists circle every year. For some reason, the three costliest, most damaging hail storms in the city’s history have all occurred on the same day — March 25 — but on three different years.
- March 25, 1993: 2-inch diameter hail (egg-sized) in north and west Austin caused $125 million in damage
- March 25, 2005: 1-2-inch diameter hail (quarter- to egg-sized) across much of the city caused $100 million in damage
- March 25, 2009: 1.75-inch diameter hail (golf ball-sized) during the evening rush hour caused Austin’s costliest hail storm in history at $160 million in damage.
After people wake up and assess their cars and homes, maybe 2021 will be added to that list. We saw dime- and nickel-sized hail across much of the area with plenty of evidence of quarter-sized and even golf ball-sized hail in parts of Austin.
A 65 mph updraft wind speed is needed to form golf ball-sized hail.
