Dr. Jeff Masters' WunderBlog

Damages from June 13 hailstorm in Dallas may be $2 billion

Posted by: Dr. Jeff Masters, 16:31 GMT le 17 juin 2012

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Insured damage from a massive 3-hour hailstorm that pummeled Dallas, Texas on Wednesday, June 13, may reach $2 billion, said the Southwestern Insurance Information Service (SIIS) on Friday. If true, this would be the fourth billion-dollar U.S. weather disaster of 2012. A cluster of three severe thunderstorms dropped hail the size of baseballs over a heavily populated area, damaging thousands of cars, puncturing skylights at a local mall, and shattering the expensive tile roofs of hundreds of homes. It was the second major hailstorm to hit the region this year; an April 3 event cost close to $500 million, and damaged 110 airplanes at the DFW airport. You can see a radar image of the June 13 storm using our wundermap with the "go back in time" feature turned on.

Figure 1. Huge hail splashes into the waters of White Rock Lake in Dallas on June 13, 2012. Image credit: Wunderphotographer CinnamonDreams.

One of the most expensive hailstorms of all-time
The June 13 hailstorm will rank as one of the most expensive of all-time, according to statistics of billion-dollar disasters maintained by NOAA's National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), and a list of damaging hail events maintained at Wikipedia. Wikipedia lists only three hailstorms in U.S. history with damages exceeding $1 billion:

1) The April 10, 2001 St. Louis, Missouri hailstorm. This costliest hailstorm in U.S. history, costing $2+ billion, struck the I-70 corridor of eastern Kansas, across Missouri, into southwestern Illinois.

2) The May 5, 1995 Mayfest Storm in Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas. Severe thunderstorms produced hail the size of softballs, causing $1.1 billion in insured losses, and total damage of $2 billion.

3) The July 11, 1990 hailstorm in Colorado. Softball-sized hail destroyed roofs and cars, causing $625 million in total damage ($1.1 billion in damage adjusted to 2011 dollars.)

Video 1. News coverage of the June 13, 2012 hailstorm in Dallas, Texas, from local TV station News8. The aerial shots of a fog-shrouded golf course covered with ice are quite remarkable.

Six global billion-dollar weather disasters so far in 2012
There have been five global billion-dollar weather disasters as of the end of May, said Aon Benfield in their latest May Catastrophe Recap. Three of these were in the U.S. With the addition of the June 13 Dallas hailstorm, the global total would rise to six and the U.S. total to four. The most expensive weather-related disaster of 2012 has been the March 2 - 3 tornado and severe weather outbreak in the Midwest and Southeast U.S., which killed 41 people and caused $3 billion in damage. The second most expensive was the severe thunderstorms and heavy rains that hit China during late April and early May, bringing flooding, landslides, and damaging hail to the Gansu, Hunan and Jiangxi provinces. Over 143,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, with $2.68 billion in damage. Two other severe weather outbreaks in the U.S. topped the $1 billion mark in damages in 2012: the April 27 - 29 event in the Midwest ($1.5 billion in damage), and an April 2 - 4 severe weather outbreak in Texas that did a tremendous amount of hail damage near Dallas/Ft. Worth ($1 billion.) A fourth severe weather event, April 13 - 15 in the Plains and Midwest, is very close the $1 billion mark ($950 million in damage.) Another weather disasters that might approach the $1 billion mark is the frosts and freezes that decimated Midwest fruit trees after 2012's "summer in March" heat wave. Agricultural damage in Michigan alone has been estimated by the state to be $223.5 million--including $130 million to cherry and apple orchards. The pace and cost of billion-dollar weather disasters in 2012 is well below that of 2011, which had had fourteen billion-dollar weather disasters between January and May (nine in the U.S.) These 2011 disasters cost $73 billion, compared to the $10 billion price tag of 2012's five-billion dollar disasters from January - May.

Super Typhoon Guchol headed towards Tokyo
Super Typhoon Guchol , a powerful Category 4 storm with 150 mph winds, is churning through the Western Pacific towards Japan, and is expected to pass close to Tokyo late Tuesday night local time. As Guchol approaches Japan on Monday and Tuesday morning, ocean temperatures will cool below 26°C and wind shear will increase, which should cause significant weakening of the typhoon. By the time of closest approach to Tokyo, I expect Guchol will most likely be a tropical storm, but could be a Category 1 typhoon.

The Atlantic is quiet
There are no threat areas to discuss in the Atlantic today. Several models are predicting that a tropical disturbance capable of becoming a tropical depression could form in Mexico's Bay of Campeche sometime June 22 - 24.

I'll have a new post late Monday or early Tuesday. Wunderground weather historian Christopher C. Burt has a post on record hailstorms.

Jeff Masters

Bigger in Texas (JWMPER)

Dallas, TX thunderstorm dropped a few big ones today.

Categories: Extreme Weather Severe Weather

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401. KEEPEROFTHEGATE (Mod) 23:24 GMT le 17 juin 2012
Member Since: 15 juillet 2006 Posts: 146 Comments: 41277

402. CybrTeddy 23:24 GMT le 17 juin 2012
Quoting Tazmanian: wind shear is still a little high That is due to the trough that is attached to our non-tropical low being tagged at 10%, that is predicted to lift out. But, I have my doubts as to if shear will be low enough for anything major. No more than a weak TS if it where to become anything, in my opinion. Member Since: 8 juillet 2005 Posts: 255 Comments: 20629

403. stormpetrol 23:24 GMT le 17 juin 2012
Member Since: 29 avril 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 6491

404. ncstorm 23:24 GMT le 17 juin 2012
Quoting CybrTeddy: Then whatever is contaminating it contaminated the GFS as well, and as I previously mentioned the HWRF during Carlotta showed this happening as well. The HWRF received a significant upgrade and is now able to see in much higher resolution than the other models - it was accurate saying that Carlotta would go where it went and that it would defiy the NHC predictions of intensity and attempt to become a major hurricane. It was also accurate in the intensity of Beryl. This is the 18z HWRF from yesterday, as I don't have a more recent update this is what it was showing. yeah funny they only mentioned the CMC and not the GFS? Member Since: 19 août 2006 Posts: 7 Comments: 8838

405. VirginIslandsVisitor 23:26 GMT le 17 juin 2012
I suppose this is off topic but still, I think it's weather related, of sorts. I can remember (dating myself here) when the "poor kids" in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland brought lobster sandwiches and the "rich kids" brought peanut butter sandwiches to school. Nowadays (and I do love this one) when a Nor'Easter blows that way, the lobster get tossed out of the ocean and the locals are down there with their green trash bags just scooping the lobster up. Fill up their freezers and no need for a license if they are on shore! Member Since: 30 juillet 2011 Posts: 1 Comments: 259

406. BahaHurican 23:26 GMT le 17 juin 2012
Hmmm... Nice imagery from Curacao, and because of its location, beautifully centred to show the Caribbean and Antilles... Member Since: 25 octobre 2005 Posts: 19 Comments: 17960

407. washingtonian115 23:26 GMT le 17 juin 2012
Quoting Grothar: Fat blob. Post 405.I'm visiting Nova Scotia then!!! Member Since: 14 août 2010 Posts: 5 Comments: 11170

408. Grothar 23:26 GMT le 17 juin 2012
Member Since: 17 juillet 2009 Posts: 58 Comments: 19637

409. winter123 23:27 GMT le 17 juin 2012
Is anyone else watching the LLC near Bermuda? It looks like the makings of a STS but not quite coming together right. Member Since: 29 juillet 2006 Posts: 28 Comments: 1706

410. stormpetrol 23:27 GMT le 17 juin 2012
Actually shear has steadily been decreasing in the W/C Caribbean. Member Since: 29 avril 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 6491

411. Grothar 23:27 GMT le 17 juin 2012
Quoting washingtonian115: Fat blob. Hey, I'm always nice to you!!! :) Member Since: 17 juillet 2009 Posts: 58 Comments: 19637

412. CybrTeddy 23:29 GMT le 17 juin 2012
18z GFS 850-500mb shear at 60hrs. Member Since: 8 juillet 2005 Posts: 255 Comments: 20629

413. BahaHurican 23:29 GMT le 17 juin 2012
My filter settings are freaking out again... :o( Member Since: 25 octobre 2005 Posts: 19 Comments: 17960

414. JrWeathermanFL 23:30 GMT le 17 juin 2012
Quoting winter123: Is anyone else watching the LLC near Bermuda? It looks like the makings of a STS but not quite coming together right. We r watching it. It's non tropical at the moment Member Since: 19 juillet 2011 Posts: 8 Comments: 1089

415. washingtonian115 23:31 GMT le 17 juin 2012
Quoting Grothar: Hey, I'm always nice to you!!! :) Lol.I'm referring to the blob in the caribbean :). Member Since: 14 août 2010 Posts: 5 Comments: 11170

416. TropicalAnalystwx13 23:31 GMT le 17 juin 2012
Quoting CybrTeddy: 18z GFS 850-500mb shear at 60hrs. Why use 500-850 mb? Member Since: 6 juillet 2010 Posts: 92 Comments: 25929

417. TAMPASHIELD 23:31 GMT le 17 juin 2012
Quoting BahaHurican: My filter settings are freaking out again... :o( And that's why I don't use the minus feature Member Since: 21 avril 2012 Posts: 4 Comments: 292

418. windshear1993 23:31 GMT le 17 juin 2012
Quoting KEEPEROFTHEGATE: what website is this on? Member Since: 1 juin 2012 Posts: 0 Comments: 66

419. BahaHurican 23:32 GMT le 17 juin 2012
Quoting winter123: Is anyone else watching the LLC near Bermuda? It looks like the makings of a STS but not quite coming together right. May not have time. It looks like it's booking it to the N / NE... trying to remember how far back we have look in the model archives to see when / how this storm was forecast. I vaguely recall some discussion of a storm off the Carolinas oh... maybe 8 - 10 days ago? Before we started talking about the BoC.... Member Since: 25 octobre 2005 Posts: 19 Comments: 17960

420. CybrTeddy 23:32 GMT le 17 juin 2012
000 ABNT20 KNHC 172331 TWOAT TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 800 PM EDT SUN JUN 17 2012 FOR THE NORTH ATLANTIC...CARIBBEAN SEA AND THE GULF OF MEXICO... A NON-TROPICAL AREA OF LOW PRESSURE LOCATED ABOUT 100 MILES EAST- NORTHEAST OF BERMUDA IS PRODUCING DISORGANIZED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS AS IT INTERACTS WITH A MID- TO UPPER-LEVEL LOW. ANY DEVELOPMENT OF THIS SYSTEM AS A SUBTROPICAL OR TROPICAL CYCLONE IS EXPECTED TO BE SLOW TO OCCUR AS IT MOVES NORTH-NORTHEASTWARD AT ABOUT 15 MPH DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. THIS SYSTEM HAS A LOW CHANCE...10 PERCENT...OF BECOMING A SUBTROPICAL OR TROPICAL CYCLONE DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS SYSTEM...PLEASE SEE HIGH SEAS FORECASTS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. ELSEWHERE...TROPICAL CYCLONE FORMATION IS NOT EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS. && HIGH SEAS FORECASTS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CAN BE FOUND UNDER AWIPS HEADER NFDHSFAT1 AND WMO HEADER FZNT01 KWBC. $$ FORECASTER BRENNAN Member Since: 8 juillet 2005 Posts: 255 Comments: 20629

421. JLPR2 23:32 GMT le 17 juin 2012
Quoting KEEPEROFTHEGATE: I wish that big blob south of the Dominican Republic would move NE and over me. But I guess wishing doesn't cut it. Member Since: 4 septembre 2007 Posts: 7 Comments: 7526

422. ncstorm 23:33 GMT le 17 juin 2012
18Z Member Since: 19 août 2006 Posts: 7 Comments: 8838

423. TropicalAnalystwx13 23:33 GMT le 17 juin 2012
TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 500 PM PDT SUN JUN 17 2012 FOR THE EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC...EAST OF 140 DEGREES WEST LONGITUDE.. A TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE EXTENDING FROM NEAR THE COAST OF MEXICO SOUTHWESTWARD INTO THE EASTERN PACIFIC OCEAN FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES CONTINUES TO PRODUCE A LARGE AREA OF DISORGANIZED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. ANY DEVELOPMENT OF THIS SYSTEM SHOULD BE SLOW TO OCCUR DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS AS IT REMAINS NEARLY STATIONARY. THIS SYSTEM HAS A LOW CHANCE...20 PERCENT...OF BECOMING A TROPICAL CYCLONE DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS. REGARDLESS OF DEVELOPMENT...HEAVY RAINFALL AND THE THREAT FOR FLASH FLOODS AND MUDSLIDES WILL CONTINUE OVER PORTIONS OF SOUTH-CENTRAL MEXICO FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. ELSEWHERE...TROPICAL CYCLONE FORMATION IS NOT EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS. $$ FORECASTER BRENNAN Member Since: 6 juillet 2010 Posts: 92 Comments: 25929

424. VirginIslandsVisitor 23:34 GMT le 17 juin 2012
Quoting washingtonian115: Fat blob. Post 405.I'm visiting Nova Scotia then!!! lol It's a wonderful place to visit! (Just pick your weather forecasts and you might luck in) Now, down here in the Virgin Islands, I've got a very close eye on what's happening here in the tropics. Member Since: 30 juillet 2011 Posts: 1 Comments: 259

425. CybrTeddy 23:34 GMT le 17 juin 2012
Quoting TropicalAnalystwx13: Why use 500-850 mb? My bad. 18z GFS 850-200mb level. As you can tell, that is why I'm not too optimistic as to strength anything beyond 40mph. Member Since: 8 juillet 2005 Posts: 255 Comments: 20629

426. BahaHurican 23:34 GMT le 17 juin 2012
Quoting TAMPASHIELD: And that's why I don't use the minus feature It happens every now and again... I turn a page and my filter freaks out. It's working again now, after a couple refreshes. Quoting windshear1993: what website is this on? http://www.meteo.an/Img_Sat.asp Member Since: 25 octobre 2005 Posts: 19 Comments: 17960

427. HurricaneHunterJoe 23:35 GMT le 17 juin 2012
Quoting Tazmanian: guys what did WunderBlogAdmin tell you guys this is a weather blog olny so post like 260 and 275 sould be posted in your own blogs has they are off topic and sould be posted in your owns blogs and not here on the main weather blog one day you find end up being bannd for posting off topic photos and youtubs that dos not go with this weather blog this giveing you guys a warning you guys been warned time after time and still he lets you get a way with it well one day you end up with a 24hr bannd or may be even a 4 day bannd from the blog so i would be care full on what you post in here Are you the CYBER POLICE? Member Since: 18 septembre 2010 Posts: 0 Comments: 3094

428. weathermanwannabe 23:37 GMT le 17 juin 2012
Here is a link to that latest CMC run showing a storm out of the Bahama, skirting Florida, and moving up towards the Carolinas. Link It's a very complex situation out there at the moment and sheer is not favorable at the moment in that region. Models gonna have a tough time reaching any consensus on this possibility. Member Since: 8 août 2006 Posts: 0 Comments: 6851

429. TropicalAnalystwx13 23:38 GMT le 17 juin 2012
Quoting CybrTeddy: My bad. 18z GFS 850-200mb level. As you can tell, that is why I'm not too optimistic as to strength anything beyond 40mph. I doubt it would be tropical and would have a hard time consolidating past a low pressure area. Member Since: 6 juillet 2010 Posts: 92 Comments: 25929

430. Levi32 23:39 GMT le 17 juin 2012
Quoting CybrTeddy: Then whatever is contaminating it contaminated the GFS as well, and as I previously mentioned the HWRF during Carlotta showed this happening as well. The HWRF received a significant upgrade and is now able to see in much higher resolution than the other models - it was accurate saying that Carlotta would go where it went and that it would defiy the NHC predictions of intensity and attempt to become a major hurricane. It was also accurate in the intensity of Beryl. This is the 18z HWRF from yesterday, as I don't have a more recent update this is what it was showing. The HWRF's resolution does decrease outside the inner nest, from 9km to 27km, and the boundary conditions are supplied to the model by the GFS. Member Since: 24 novembre 2005 Posts: 593 Comments: 25600

431. BahaHurican 23:39 GMT le 17 juin 2012
Now that we've had a change of government, I think I'll try to get somebody to put the radar back up on the BS Met Office website... that would be ultra cool... Member Since: 25 octobre 2005 Posts: 19 Comments: 17960

432. TropicalAnalystwx13 23:40 GMT le 17 juin 2012
Hey Levi. Member Since: 6 juillet 2010 Posts: 92 Comments: 25929

433. cyclonekid 23:40 GMT le 17 juin 2012
Quoting TropicalAnalystwx13: Guchol's eye is pretty much gone. If I were to give it an intensity estimate, I would probably say Guchol is probably a strong Cat 2 or Cat 3 right now. Member Since: 14 juillet 2009 Posts: 51 Comments: 1659

435. CybrTeddy 23:42 GMT le 17 juin 2012
Quoting TropicalAnalystwx13: I doubt it would be tropical and would have a hard time consolidating past a low pressure area. It's a tropical wave with nothing else in the mix, why wouldn't it be tropical - just a sheared wave. Member Since: 8 juillet 2005 Posts: 255 Comments: 20629

436. TropicalAnalystwx13 23:42 GMT le 17 juin 2012
Quoting CybrTeddy: It's a tropical wave with nothing else in the mix, why wouldn't it be tropical - just a sheared wave. This. Member Since: 6 juillet 2010 Posts: 92 Comments: 25929

437. Levi32 23:42 GMT le 17 juin 2012
Quoting TropicalAnalystwx13: Hey Levi. Hey TA13, how's it going? Member Since: 24 novembre 2005 Posts: 593 Comments: 25600

438. GeoffreyWPB 23:44 GMT le 17 juin 2012
Quoting weathermanwannabe: Here is a link to that latest CMC run showing a storm out of the Bahama, skirting Florida, and moving up towards the Carolinas. Link It's a very complex situation out there at the moment and sheer is not favorable at the moment in that region. Models gonna have a tough time reaching any consensus on this possibility. Can't see that happening within 60 hours. Member Since: 10 septembre 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 9244

439. Levi32 23:47 GMT le 17 juin 2012
Quoting CybrTeddy: It's a tropical wave with nothing else in the mix, why wouldn't it be tropical - just a sheared wave. Well the GFS clearly shows that the tropical wave axis follows the low-mid level flow straight into the western-central Gulf of Mexico. The new low in the Bahamas develops mostly of its own accord due to speed divergence aloft, with some instigation likely from the northeastern tip of the tropical wave, but the low is pretty much separate from the wave axis. Member Since: 24 novembre 2005 Posts: 593 Comments: 25600

440. Tropicsweatherpr 23:47 GMT le 17 juin 2012
Hi Levi. Is all on track to see something develop later this week/weekend? Member Since: 29 avril 2009 Posts: 67 Comments: 8744

441. redwagon 23:47 GMT le 17 juin 2012
Quoting ncstorm: 18Z Wow. Not often you see a blue diamond on the prob chart. Usually elongoidals. Ovals or circles. Member Since: 4 août 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 1478

442. CybrTeddy 23:47 GMT le 17 juin 2012
I hadn't noticed the ULL, then yes it would defiantly be sub-tropical. Member Since: 8 juillet 2005 Posts: 255 Comments: 20629

443. windshear1993 23:48 GMT le 17 juin 2012
Quoting BahaHurican: It happens every now and again... I turn a page and my filter freaks out. It's working again now, after a couple refreshes. http://www.meteo.an/Img_Sat.asp i want the rainbow one that you posted earlier Member Since: 1 juin 2012 Posts: 0 Comments: 66

444. washingtonian115 23:49 GMT le 17 juin 2012
Quoting TropicalAnalystwx13: This. The next Heri :). Member Since: 14 août 2010 Posts: 5 Comments: 11170

445. windshear1993 23:50 GMT le 17 juin 2012
Quoting windshear1993: i want the rainbow one that you posted earlier on coment 356 Member Since: 1 juin 2012 Posts: 0 Comments: 66

446. Levi32 23:51 GMT le 17 juin 2012
In reference to post 439, here's the GFS 72-hour 850mb winds and vorticity: Member Since: 24 novembre 2005 Posts: 593 Comments: 25600

447. MAweatherboy1 23:53 GMT le 17 juin 2012
Anyone else monitoring the storms tonight? Because there are some mean ones out there... Member Since: 11 février 2012 Posts: 70 Comments: 6516

448. Levi32 23:54 GMT le 17 juin 2012
Quoting Tropicsweatherpr: Hi Levi. Is all on track to see something develop later this week/weekend? I think something will definitely attempt to. It will likely be too broad to become terribly strong though, which is good news if you like rain in the NW gulf. I doubt we'll see a true tropical disturbance in the Bahamas like has been showing up on the models today. A low may form but non-tropically, and the focus of action should be in the west-central gulf, in my opinion. Member Since: 24 novembre 2005 Posts: 593 Comments: 25600

449. trHUrrIXC5MMX 23:54 GMT le 17 juin 2012
off topic guys, for those 56 who plussed me for my graduation and valedictorian speech, here is a picture a friend of my took during the ceremony... have a peek. CLASS OF 2012 That's in Norwalk, CT hope u like it :) Member Since: 23 avril 2011 Posts: 37 Comments: 8485

450. Hurricanes101 23:54 GMT le 17 juin 2012
Here we go, GFS looks like it has started to weaken or even drop the BOC disturbance, that is the next step in the next few days it will pick up development again Member Since: 10 Mars 2010 Posts: 1 Comments: 6930

451. stormwatcherCI 23:55 GMT le 17 juin 2012
Quoting trHUrrIXC5MMX: off topic guys, for those 56 who plussed me for my graduation and valedictorian speech, here is a picture a friend on mine took during the ceremony... have a peek. CLASS OF 2012 That's in Norwalk, CT hope u like it :) Congratulations. I take it you are the one with the big grin and thumbs up looking back. Member Since: 9 octobre 2008 Posts: 0 Comments: 8058

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