Dallas Area Pummeled with Baseball Size Hail

Portions of Dallas along with surrounding cities were hit with large hail and high winds on June 13 causing damage to vehicles, homes and businesses. Baseball size hail was reported in east Dallas and Grand Prairie, while golf ball size hail was reported in several cities in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

This is the second major storm system to strike Dallas in the past six weeks. On April 3 the DFW area had at least 12 confirmed tornadoes and the area was blanketed with hail. Insured losses were estimated at more than $400 million. Losses from the most recent storm could be higher.

Insurance adjusters are currently assessing the damage claims, according to Mark Hanna, a spokesman for the Insurance Council of Texas.

The National Weather Service Office in Fort Worth said two large storm cells produced most of the damage.

“The first storm started in Plano and moved down Highway 75 plowing into east Dallas and the Lakewood area,” said meteorologist Ted Ryan. “The second storm moved from Grapevine and intensified once it hit east Arlington, Grand Prairie and Midlothian.”

A map provided by HailWatch (hailwatch.com) shows there were actually four storm cells that produced large hail in the area. Each storm system stretched for approximately 30 miles moving from north to south.

Because of the widespread damage, policyholders who need to report claims on their vehicles or property are urged to contact their insurance agents and companies as soon as possible. Comprehensive or other than collision coverage provides insurance protection for vehicles, while windstorm policies provide coverage due to wind and hail damage for residential property.

Homeowners who may have lost skylights or windows should make temporary repairs to protect their homes against any further damage.

Hanna said everyone in the area should carefully check their vehicles and homes for damage. He suggested policyholders take photographs or videotape the damage for their records.

Source: The Insurance Council of Texas