Hailstones the size of softballs hammered parts of the US this week

TL;DR Severe thunderstorms delivered heavy rainfall and hailstones up to 11.5cm in diameter across the Mediterranean and parts of the United States this week.

This week, specific atmospheric conditions fueled intense weather activity across multiple continents. Low-pressure systems contributed to the development of powerful thunderstorms. These systems, combined with hot precursor conditions, generated significant hailstorms and heavy precipitation.

Storms impacted North Africa early in the week. Oum Ladjoul and Hammam Sokhna in Algeria reported hail accumulations reaching 3cm. Nearby, the town of Makthar in Tunisia experienced hailstones up to 3cm in diameter. These events led to ground coverage resembling snow in some areas. Further hail layers, about 2cm deep, were noted in Ouled Bousmir, Tunisia.

Later in the week, central Italy also faced severe downpours. The city of Ascoli Piceno recorded 52.1mm of rain in just over an hour and ten minutes. Mosciano Sant’Angelo saw 62.3mm of rain fall in under one hour and fifty minutes during these storms. Sicily's Bagheria also reported 46mm of rain in 36 minutes.

The United States experienced its own powerful weather systems. On Tuesday evening, a supercell storm, a type of thunderstorm characterized by a rotating updraft, swept through Dane County, Wisconsin. This system brought baseball-sized hailstones measuring 7cm in diameter around Madison. The following day, severe storms continued across the northeast US and spread into Ohio. Near Kansas City, residents reported hailstones as large as softballs, reaching diameters of 11.5cm. This scale of hail represents a significant meteorological event. Approximately 20 tornadoes were also reported across the US this week, primarily in Wisconsin, Kansas, Iowa, and Minnesota, accompanying these severe weather outbreaks.

These concurrent weather events highlight the localized intensity possible with severe thunderstorms. Such storms can produce rapid rainfall totals and large hail, posing immediate risks to infrastructure and agriculture. Meteorologists continue to monitor developing atmospheric conditions. Observers will track future severe weather patterns and their global distribution.