Hail — Benton, Missouri

2024-05-08 · near Ionia, Benton, Missouri

Event narrative

Report of quarter size hail.

Wider weather episode

Two rounds of severe thunderstorms occurred on May 8, 2024. The first round occurred during the morning and early afternoon hours as a surface low pressure system approached the area from the southwest, pushing a strong frontal boundary and shortwave energy/lift into the region. For this round, thunderstorms were more elevated in nature, producing hail up to golf ball size, damaging winds, and flash flooding due to heavy rain.

The second round of severe thunderstorms occurred during the mid-afternoon and evening hours as stronger lift approached the frontal boundary and additional thunderstorms developed along the front. Supercells produced hail up to 4 inches in diameter, widespread wind damage, flash flooding, and an EF-1 tornado in Barry and Lawrence counties.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (38.5100, -93.3200)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1173406. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.