Severe Thunderstorms Hammer Metro with Hail Damage

The National Weather Service issued severe thunderstorm warnings for multiple counties in Oklahoma Sunday. The storm produced so much hail that it appeared as if a snowstorm had hit the area. <br /><br /><strong>More:&nbsp;</strong>Send Your Weather Photos to <a href="mailto:pics@news9.net">pics@news9.net</a> | <a href="http://www.news9.com/global/Category.asp?c=167390&amp;nav=menu681_3" target="_self">Sign up for weather text alerts</a>

Sunday, May 16th 2010, 4:18 pm

By: News 9


News9.com

OKLAHOMA CITY – Severe thunderstorms rolled across central Oklahoma producing softball sized hail in parts of the metro and causing major hail damage. The storm produced so much hail that it appeared as if a snowstorm had hit the area.

Winds gusted as much as 65 mph and quarter-sized hail to tennis ball sized hail was reported as the storm moved southeast from Kingfisher to Del City.

The National Weather Service had issued an earlier tornado warning in Kingfisher and Canadian counties until 3:30 p.m. 

Hail Damage May 16

Around 4,000 people were without power in the metro after the storm. Check power outages on OG&E's site.

Fire Chief Cecil Clay said his agency responded to several traffic accidents. The hail storm stalled traffic along I-35, I-235 and I-40. Clay said fire trucks were also sent to several sites where fires were reported, but the firefighters found only water vapor rising into the air from hail on the ground, appearing to be smoke.

EMSA reported over forty 911 calls for hail related injuries, including 21 people who were taken to area hospitals. Two EMSA units lost windshields.

The Oklahoma City Fire Department said they had damage at stations 18 and 22 and the windshield on ladder 22 was busted by hail.

Ten personal vehicles and 34 police units were damaged at the Oklahoma City Police Department substation near 122nd and Portland.

Hail damage including broken windows and flooding was reported in the metro. Check road conditions by calling Oklahoma's Road Conditions hotline at 888-425-2385.

The Quail Creek Golf and Country Club is closed through Wednesday after the course suffered damage and was covered in debris.

Severe Weather May 16

One of the hardest hit neighborhoods during Sunday's hail storm was Crown Heights. Stain glass windows at an area synagogue were completely smashed. Area resident Nancy Robertson said it was unlike anything she'd ever heard when the storm started coming down.

"You could hear a big thud and then shattered glass on two or three occasions," Robertson said.

The hail busted windows out of a Mexican restaurant in Belle Isle, forcing it to close its doors early. It also caused major damage to a Marriott Courtyard, but no one was injured.

Windows were smashed and the roof came crumbling down at All Souls Episcopal Church near Pennsylvania Avenue and 63rd Street. Church members, who were next door, said it's something they've never seen before.

"I've lived in Oklahoma for 22 years and I've never seen anything like this," said church member Blake Baylor.

Many residents in Piedmont suffered severe damage Sunday. Windows were knocked out and hail pierced through the roofs of homes.

"The hail started coming out and the windows busted out and just sat there and rode it out as the cats went crazy," said Piedmont resident Chad Walker.

Tal Harris, another Piedmont resident, said every window in his house was blown out and hail was scattered throughout his home.

Damage was also reported at 86th and Western Avenue, in Nichols Hills at Pennsylvania and Coventry Park, along N.W. 101st Street, N.W. 91st Street and many damaged apartment complexes on the northwest side of the city.

Don't forget to sign up for our free text message warning service, MobileAlert9, which will notify you of specific severe weather warnings on your mobile device.

Send us your weather photos at pics@news9.net and they could be used on air or in a slideshow.

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