A powerful hailstorm that swept across southwest Missouri killed a zoo animal, shattered car windshields, damaged buildings, and knocked out power to thousands of homes and businesses, according to local officials and weather authorities.
The storm struck the Springfield and Greene County area on April 28, bringing hailstones reportedly as large as softballs as severe weather moved across parts of the central United States.
According to USA Today and the Springfield News-Leader, meteorologists with the National Weather Service measured hail up to four inches in diameter during the storm, with one report in Greene County reaching 4.75 inches.
The Dickerson Park Zoo reported “significant” hail damage and confirmed that a 21-year-old female emu died during the storm. A male rhea – another large flightless bird native to South America – was treated by veterinarians after being injured.
The zoo said no visitors or staff members were hurt and that the remaining animals were safe.
Across Springfield, residents reported widespread property damage, including smashed windows, damaged roofs, dented vehicles, and broken siding.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol posted photographs showing severe hail damage to patrol vehicles, including one cruiser with a completely shattered windshield.
Nicolette Zangara of the Springfield-Greene County Office of Emergency Management described the storm’s impact as “a mixed bag” of hail ranging from pea-sized to baseball-sized.
Utility companies also warned residents about possible gas leaks caused by hail-damaged gas meters. At one point, more than 10,000 customers lost electricity as the storm moved through the region.
Severe hailstorms are not uncommon in Missouri and the wider Great Plains region during spring and early summer, when warm, humid air collides with colder atmospheric systems. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the United States experiences more damaging hailstorms than any other country, with billions of dollars in property losses recorded annually.
The Missouri storm was part of a broader outbreak of severe weather affecting multiple states, including Texas, Arkansas, and Mississippi, where tornadoes, high winds, and large hail were also reported.
The story was originally reported by USA Today and the Springfield News-Leader.
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