Hail No!

[swebster]

Just went through our first Hailstorm scare today. I was standing in line at Blockbuster and it got really, really dark and started pouring. Then hailing! Maybe quarter sized at times.

I ran out to the car and the Tornado sirens were going off all over the city. Since my office was closer than my house I headed there, at times I could not hear my wife on the cell phone for the noise the hail was making on the hood and roof.

As I got closer to the office I thought to myself, well I wonder what the insurance company will give me for her as I was sure I'd find a shot peened looking 345 there to greet me. Surprisingly, and to my relief, the hail stopped about a block from the office (and AS) and it came through unscathed.

It was pretty intense, a couple of touchdowns in the city and some real damage further out. Having both grown up in New England we were used to Hurricanes but these Tornados completely freak us out. After all, not twenty minutes before this mess it was sunny and nice out.

After getting back to the house about an hour later the tension was broken when my five year old daughter asked my wife "Is it OK now cause the tomato moved to another state?"

Time to go camping !

[dscluchfc]

Having grown up and lived in the Texas Panhandle most of my life, I have seen my share of severe weather and more funnel clouds in the air and on the ground than I care to think about. At least tornadoes are "localized" usually providing some evidence that conditions are favorable for thier formation.
Unlike earthquakes, that provide little if any warning and no method of avoidance.
And hurricanes, that cover huge areas and provide you no method of escape that does not include an evacuation trip of hundreds of miles coupled with boarding up everything.
Given my choices....I'll take tornadoes any day.

[eubank]

Actually, having lived in Texas for over 30 years and enduring the tornado season on a yearly basis, I'm happy to be in the mountains of New Mexico, where tornados just don't exist. Of course, the trade-off is snow, snow, and more snow!

Lynn

[WayWard Wind]

Count your blessings!!! Next time you think you have nothing but bad luck ----think again. Good to hear all went well & no harm done.
Best,

[bake315]

After having my car literally totaled with me in it, by softball-sized hail in downtown Fort Worth 10 years ago, I've become extremely wary of severe weather. Now, if I see the sky getting that telltale greenish gray color, I start looking for gas stations, car washes, anything I can get the car and myself under. Of course, hail typically means tornadic activity is very possible, whereby such a shelter wouldn't be too helpful.

On the subject of tornadoes, I especially hate it when tornadoes are in the area after dark - no chance whatsoever to see where it's coming from!

[bredlo]

Yes, those tomatoes sure leave quite a mess behind. Glad you're okay!

[bake315]

Originally Posted by eubank

Actually, having lived in Texas for over 30 years and enduring the tornado season on a yearly basis, I'm happy to be in the mountains of New Mexico, where tornados just don't exist. Of course, the trade-off is snow, snow, and more snow!

Lynn

The snow I can handle - I just don't know if I could handle what they charge for a dozen eggs at that Diamond Shamrock just up the street from you - yikes!

[swebster]

And hurricanes, that cover huge areas and provide you no method of escape that does not include an evacuation trip of hundreds of miles coupled with boarding up everything.
Given my choices....I'll take tornadoes any day.

David,
Funny to hear you say that. I've hear the same from many friends who grew up around here. I guess it's what you're used to for anyone. I think, growing up, we all knew when a hurricane was coming days in advance and if you were inland somewhat you really didn't have too many issues. It's the whole not knowing where they are and if they'll hit near you that freaks me out the most.

I once weathered a Nor'Easter in my inlaws beach house in NH. Waves were crashing over the beach wall and seawater was running down each side of the yard. The next morning we found the Portsmouth channel marker (read BIG) on the beach in front of the house. Powerful yes, but somehow predicable.

Maybe I'm crazy (well OK I'm crazy) but knowing it's coming is better for me. One thing I will say in a Tornado's favor, twenty minutes later....it was blue skies again.

[dscluchfc]

Heck Steven....I have even gone out chasing tornados when I was younger. It is a contact sport on the Great Plains...

[rseagle]

Regrettably we get all types of nasty weather here in VA. Hurricanes (Isabell in '03), Nor'Easters, tornados (usually F1s to F3s, but an F5 struck just across the Potomac in La Plata, MD recently) and HAIL! Last summer my brand new 2004 CCD got clobbered with 1" size hail. The stretched aluminum end cap sections (being thinner) suffered the worst. There are numerous pot marks on them now. Amazingly the thicker roof and side panels didn't have any visabledamage. My neighbor, a former Airstreamer, said that over time, the heating and cooling by the Sun will smooth the depressions out some. To date, they are still noticable.

[Silvertwinkie]

Hey Steve, I'm was in Sellersburg (15 miles north of Louisvile) and so was the Safari. I was in a panic. The tornado sirens went off about 4 times, got pitch black and the wind and sudden temp drop had me REALLY worried. But in the end, it was just really windy, a bit of rain and just plain lucky none of the range of penny size hail to baseball size hail they were talking about showed it's face, or I'd have been cryin' in my beer last night.

Bottom line, I shared your pain yesterday, exactly, and felt like this for those two some hours

[RivetED]

Nothing strikes fear in me like the thought of having my Airstream exposed to a hail storm & "Bismarked" (re: Bismark ND - WBCCI Intnl circa '99?). Too bad there isn't some kind of 'hail blanket' you could throw over it when necessary.

[streamer23]

First post and am not very computer literate but I was at the 93 International in Bismark N.D. when the hailstorm hit and I remember the intense rain and flooding that resulted.I believe the GOLD section of the rally was flooded in places with all the electrical hook-ups underwater.Pallets had to be laid down for some folks so they didn't have to wade to their rigs.A memorable rally to be sure.

[j54mark]

For the first time since I have owned my coach it is under roof. It was worth every penny not to have to worry about it. Of course there is still the chance of high winds or a tornado, but that is a very slight risk compared to the frequency of hailstorms.

On the other hand, it is supposed to drop to 29 deg. tonight, and I am going to have to go out and turn on the furnace to keep it from freezing! And here it is April 23! Global warming, bah!

Mark

[Tin Hut]

I've been thinking about different tactics one could use if a hail storm is coming and you can't move. I put grommets in the outdoor carpet that I use & thought I'd throw it over at least the end caps I tie it down, but I think it would abrade the finish because of it's rough finish. I've thought about carryimg bubble wrap or something that could be unrolled quickly and thrown over the ends but that's bulky to carry and hard to secure. I've also thought about a canopy with the collapsable pup tent poles that could be attached and quickly pulled over each end. There must be a practical, easy method, I just haven't figured it out yet.

[rseagle]

Wouldn't it be nice, if someone would invent and market an inflatable cushion/cover that could be unrolled, spread over the trailer, tied down and quickly inflated with a DC air pump. This might protect from most hail events.

[Lumatic]

Originally Posted by eubank

I'm happy to be in the mountains of New Mexico, where tornados just don't exist.
Lynn

Not exactly, I saw a small tornado in Rio Rancho a few years ago and one west of Estancia last year. We also had a tornado warning last fall in Estancia. and they had one near enough to Albuquerque a few days ago that photos were on the news. Maybe there are no tornados in the mountains but we have out share in other parts of the state. Not to mention dust devils which will sandblast your coach in a few seconds.

[eubank]

Originally Posted by Marshall

Not exactly, I saw a small tornado in Rio Rancho a few years ago and one west of Estancia last year. We also had a tornado warning last fall in Estancia. and they had one near enough to Albuquerque a few days ago that photos were on the news. Maybe there are no tornados in the mountains but we have out share in other parts of the state. Not to mention dust devils which will sandblast your coach in a few seconds.

Ah, but, you see, you guys are down in "low country," where that kind of thing is possible. We live halfway to the moon in altitude, so we get cold (really, really cold!!), and we can have some ugly thunderstorms, but the hail winds up underdeveloped, and tornados just don't make it at all.

Speaking of which, though, when we lived in Tejas, I used to throw an old banket over our MG to protect it from big hail storms. It worked well. All that was apparently needed was something to provide a little bit of cushion from the stones.


Lynn