Hail in Douglas County, Missouri

Social media report of softball size hail. An estimated 30 homes, from northern sections of Ava northward to the county line, suffered damage to roofs, windows and siding. Damage estimates of $32,000 per home occurred, with another 30 cars damaged as well including some that had windows broken. This damage summary includes hail reported in other locations from Ava northward during this evening.

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.