Residents of Columbus were left stunned Tuesday evening as an intense storm swept through the area, unleashing unusually large hail that quickly covered streets, yards, and parking lots. What began as a typical rainy afternoon turned dramatic when strong winds and dark, thick clouds set the stage for a sudden barrage of ice. Chunks of hail pelted rooftops, cars, and sidewalks as people scrambled indoors for safety.
Witnesses described the noise of the hail striking homes as “deafening,” likening it to a pounding drumbeat across the neighborhood. Some hailstones were reported to be as large as golf balls, with others appearing even bigger when collected from the ground.
After the storm moved on, lawns and parking lots were blanketed in white, leaving a surreal scene that transformed familiar parts of the city into something resembling a winter landscape despite the spring weather.
