Hailstorm Drops Golf Ball Sized Hail on Brevard County Residents
Florida residents were in for a wild Wednesday morning when a severe hailstorm pummeled Central Florida. On March 27, 2019, a powerful hailstorm swept through Brevard County, causing property damage and dumping rain and record-size hail on our residents.
In some places, the hail piled up to look like snow drifts. Others saw hailstones the size of hen’s eggs or golf balls. If you follow our Facebook feed, you’ve probably already seen our video from one Brevard county home, where hail tore through the screen enclosure and pounded the porch and swimming pool. Other residents experienced broken windows, damage to their roofs or cars.
“Ask An Adjuster” founder Kevin Downs spoke with the Melbourne Beachside about the storm and what to do to respond.
When Hailstorms Happen in Florida
Though March and April tend to be within Florida’s dry season, severe storms producing hail are most likely during these spring months. Weather record-keeping in Brevard County only goes back to 1950, but since then, we’ve had six other recorded instances of hail two inches in diameter, and four of those instances took place in March or April. Hailstorms can happen at other times of the year, too. All that’s needed are the right conditions within a thunderstorm cloud.
How Hailstorms Form
Hailstorms form in tall thunderheads. Strong updrafts propel water droplets high in the clouds, where freezing temperatures turn them to ice. These tiny frozen pellets continue to circulate in the cloud, falling low enough to gather more water droplets and then being pushed up to icy heights again to freeze as a larger hailstone. The stronger the updrafts, the larger the hailstones get before they finally become too large and heavy and fall to the earth.
What to Do If You Experience a Hailstorm
If you experience a hailstorm, make sure you and your family remain in a secure part of your home, away from windows.
After the storm ends, you can begin to assess any damage to your home or property. Make sure you immediately document damage you find. Having detailed notes will help you when you need to file an insurance claim. Remember, some property damage, like roof damage, may not be easily visible.
Contact a licensed public claims adjuster and have them conduct a thorough inspection to record any damage to your property. Your insurance company may send an adjuster as well, and even if they do, hiring a public claims adjuster will give you an independent evaluation of the damage.
If you experienced damage from the March 27 storm or another severe weather event, contact Ask An Adjuster to schedule a free inspection with one of our licensed public claims adjusters today.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the largest hailstone ever recorded?
Ans: The official record for the largest hailstone was recorded at 20.3 cm or 8 inches, near Vivian, South Dakota, The United States in 2010.
How big can a hailstone get?
Ans: Hailstones can be as heavy as 0.6 kg or 1.1 lb, with an average radius of 6 inches.
