Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 07-29-2009, 03:51 PM   #1
Rivet Master
 
1977 31' Sovereign
1963 26' Overlander
1989 34' Excella
Johnsburg , Illinois
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,944
Angry Hail of a Rally Story

Northern Illinois Unit Rally at Keiler, Wisconsin, July 24Th, 2009, about 6:45 PM, Golf Ball size hail driven by 100 mi/hr. straight line winds (as reported from Doppler radar) assaulted the 11 trailers and tow vehicles which came to the Rally. Three couples had their trucks windows shattered and another had the car sunroof explode. A vintage '63 trailer lost two plain glass side windows. Miraculously, no newer model trailers, with tempered glass windows, broke. However, skylights in many trailers were cracked or destroyed. “Kielers”, too numerous to count, appeared on all the trailers. (”Kielers” are similar to “Bismarcks” but are larger, measuring up to 9 inches in diameter and up to 1.2 inches deep.) Tree limbs fell on other trailers. Of course, the power went out. Many people retreated to the barn basement. The skylight in the barn shattered and it rained in. I stood under the metal clad front porch of the barn holding the door shut, while watching it all unfold. One member ran to his trailer as it started, to close his vent and got trapped in the trailer as the hail battered it. The noise of the large hailstones breaking glass in the cars and trying to get through the metal roof was unreal. At the time, we were holding happy hour inside the barn after returning from a 50 mile long road rally scavenger hunt (sans trailers) and waiting for the rain to clear before starting our outdoor cook out. Needless to say, plans changed. Thankfully, no one was hurt.



After it settled down a bit, we ventured out to survey the damage. It was extensive. This was a new experience for most and one we hope to never repeat. Plastic sheeting, cardboard and massive amounts of duct tape came to the rescue the next morning as people readied their rigs for their trip to the next destination. Pictures at the Northernillinios.wbcci.net website.
dwightdi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-29-2009, 04:09 PM   #2
Rivet Master
 
danalee's Avatar
 
1978 29' Ambassador
Walnut Cove , North Carolina
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 519
Images: 30
Wow- I am so glad no one was hurt. I get a stomach ache every time it starts to storm.
__________________
Dannie
The Silver Queen
danalee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-29-2009, 09:28 PM   #3
Rivet Master
 
1977 31' Sovereign
1963 26' Overlander
1989 34' Excella
Johnsburg , Illinois
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,944
There is another write up with pictures on the Northern Illinois August Newsletter posted athttp://holland1.web.aplus.net/Newsle...47_Issue_5.pdf
dwightdi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-29-2009, 09:34 PM   #4
moderator
Commercial Member
 
Airslide's Avatar

 
2016 27' International
Currently Looking...
Wilton , California
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,711
Images: 50
Thank God there were no injuries.. but the damage to the airstreams hurts too...

Sorry

Vinnie
__________________
"Old fashioned service on your late model Airstream"

https://www.facebook.com/VinniesNort...ir?ref=tn_tnmn
Airslide is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-30-2009, 10:26 AM   #5
Rivet Master
 
Lily&Me's Avatar

 
2007 Interstate
Normal , Illinois
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 18,065
Yoweeee! What an awful experience that must have been! So glad no one was hurt, so sorry about the damage to the vehicles. More stories to share around the campfire.
__________________
🏡 🚐 Cherish and appreciate those you love. This moment could be your last.🌹🐚
Lily&Me is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-30-2009, 12:14 PM   #6
Obsessed with Moonunit
 
COArgosy78's Avatar
 
1978 Argosy Minuet 6.7 Metre
Love It Here , Colorado
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 957
Images: 55
I truly feel for all of you and thankful that no one had injuries to themselves. I, too dread the hail. The weather has been so unreal this summer. We are having hail here in Colorado very late into the summer (last one just this past Monday with great damage by tangerine size). Today we are experiencing temps in the 50s and 60s on eastern range, with reports of rain mixing w/snow up at some of the higher elevations!?! And 100+ in Oregon and Washington state!!

I remember when we first moved here to Colorado, we had one of those wind driven hail storms. The golfball size hail came right thru our livingroom windows, bouncing all over the floor, yikes!! Only good part was getting a new roof, as ours was on its last legs. Have to look for that silver lining among those clouds, don't ya know.
__________________
Leigh (IB Aluminated)

"When a great ship is in harbour and moored, it is safe, there can be no doubt. But that is not what great ships are built for." by Clarissa Pinkola-Estes, author of ‘Women Who Run With the Wolves’
COArgosy78 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-30-2009, 02:27 PM   #7
Moderator
 
jcanavera's Avatar

 
2004 30' Classic Slideout
Fenton , Missouri
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 10,403
Images: 143
Send a message via AIM to jcanavera Send a message via Skype™ to jcanavera
We were overnighting in Lasalle Il that night. We were coming from Door County Wi, and saw the dark clouds behind us. It finally hit us around dark. They were predicting high winds and hail for us. Thankfully other than heavy rain and some wind, the hail failed to materialize in the area of our campground.

Sorry to hear what happend to you. We were sitting on pins and needles....

Jack
__________________
Jack Canavera
STL Mo.
AIR #56 S/OS#15
'04 Classic 30' S.O.,'03 GMC Savana 2500
jcanavera is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-30-2009, 03:24 PM   #8
Rivet Master
 
mello mike's Avatar
 
1958 26' Overlander
Mesa , Arizona
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,742
Images: 53
That's one Hell of Hail Story. Sorry to hear about everyone's losses, but glad to hear nobody was hurt. That's what's really important.
__________________
1958 Overlander
2011 Wolf Creek 850N TC
2011 Ford F-250 Crewcab (6.2L), 3.73RE

WBCCI #5661/AIR #5661/TAC # AZ-6
4CU 1st VP

My '58 Overlander Restoration and Travel Blog:
https://mellomikesairstreams.blogspot.com/
mello mike is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-30-2009, 05:53 PM   #9
4 Rivet Member
 
tallytwo1994's Avatar
 
Currently Looking...
tallahassee , Florida
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 340
Images: 1
You never know what one of these storms can bring. Just glad we don't get much hail along with the high winds and rain in Florida.

Carol
tallytwo1994 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Hail! dmac Ribs, Skins & Rivets 64 06-24-2010 09:54 PM
Hail, Oh No danalee General Repair Forum 4 04-28-2009 10:20 AM
Hail Boondocker On The Road... 14 05-14-2008 07:16 AM
Hail, Hail and we're still here GreggH Off Topic Forum 10 04-09-2006 06:48 PM
Hail No! swebster Airstream Motorhome Forums 17 04-23-2005 01:15 PM


Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Airstream, Inc. or any of its affiliates. Airstream is a registered trademark of Airstream Inc. All rights reserved. Airstream trademark used under license to Social Knowledge LLC.



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:28 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.