Kansas City:  (816) 384-0638 | Central MO:  (816) 384-0638

05/08-05/09: Golf-ball Sized Hail and Severe Thunderstorms in Bates and Cass Counties

Severe thunderstorm warning blasted through Bates and Cass Counties delivering golf ball-sized hail and violent wind gusts. Damages came to vehicles, homes, and outbuildings.  

What: 2 inch hail

When: May 8 and May 9, 2023

Where: Bates and Cass Counties

What It Means for Your Home

Local reports indicate severe damages and a massive amount of hail fell during this storm. 

Those are some enormous concerns for local residents, but what does that mean for your home?

Hail Concerns

Generally, hail that is greater than 1″ in diameter will cause damage and warrants a professional inspection. 

Hail this size can create dents in shingles as well as bruising in the underlayment. 

You may see dents in your gutters and fascia, while siding can become dented or even cracked. 

Hail can tear holes in window and door screens, and shingles will experience granule loss – this will be obvious from an excessive amount of granules in your gutter downspouts.

Larger hail, in the range of 1.5″ to 2″ in diameter, is even more destructive. In addition to the above problems, the hail of this size can begin to penetrate softer parts of the roof like ridge caps and plastic roof vents. 

Siding is more likely to crack and break – you may even see your siding tear off entirely from the combined pressure of hail strikes and high winds. 

Windows and doors may show cracks in their glass from hail impacts. Most metal fixtures will begin to show damage.

image via weather.gov

Thunderstorm Concerns

Thunderstorms are a normal precursor to hazards such as lightning, hail, wind, floods, and even tornadoes. The typical thunderstorm is 15 miles in diameter and lasts an average of 30 minutes. Lightning can occur anywhere there is a thunderstorm, and can even strike miles away from the storm. Looking at where lightning occurs helps describe where the most prevalent thunderstorm activity is. Familiarizing yourself with the terms below may help with what to expect so you can properly prepare.

  • Severe Thunderstorm Watch ─ Severe thunderstorms are possible in and near the watch area. Stay informed and be ready to act if a severe thunderstorm warning is issued.
  • Severe Thunderstorm Warning ─ Severe weather has been reported by spotters or indicated by radar. Warnings indicate imminent danger to life and property.
  • 30/30 Lightning Rule ─ You can tell how close you are to a lightning strike by counting the seconds between seeing the flash and hearing the thunder. For every five seconds you count, the lightning is one mile away. If you see a flash and instantly hear the thunder, the lightning strike is very close.

Has your home or outbuildings been affected by the recent storms? Royal Roofing is here to help! We specialize in farm and ranch buildings. As livestock owners ourselves, we understand that your outbuildings are just as important as your home, and Royal has years of experience with the different types of roof systems in your area. 

We service Bates and Cass counties, with offices in Warrensburg and Pleasant Hill. Reach out today to schedule a site visit so we can make sure your buildings are ready to handle the next storm. 

Royal Roofing: Your Rural Roofer Company