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Giant Hail Devastates Springfield Zoo, Kills Emu
1 May
Summary
- Softball-size hail, measuring 4.75 inches, struck Springfield.
- The historic hailstorm killed an emu and injured another bird.
- Thousands lost power, and numerous vehicles and aircraft were damaged.
Springfield, Missouri, was recently battered by what is described as its worst hailstorm in history. Softball-sized hail, with one piece measuring 4.75 inches (12 centimeters), fell on Tuesday. This extreme weather event caused significant damage, including the death of a 21-year-old emu named Adam at the Dickerson Park Zoo. Another bird, a rhea named Oscar, was injured but is recovering.
Thousands of residents lost power due to the storm. Hundreds of vehicles suffered broken windshields and sunroofs, and even some aircraft at the Springfield-Branson National Airport were damaged, leading to flight delays and cancellations. While this storm was severe, it fell short of Missouri's state record for hail size, which was 6 inches (15.2 centimeters) recorded in 2004.
Meanwhile, other parts of the U.S. are also facing severe weather. The Southeast is bracing for heavier rain on Saturday as a storm moves east. The Southern U.S. and Gulf Coast experienced heavy rainfall from Friday, with cooler temperatures expected to follow the storm system. While this rainfall may alleviate drought conditions, pockets of excessive rain could lead to localized flash flooding.
