Weekend hail triggers memories of big Easter Sunday 2003 hailstorm

COLUMBUS (WCMH) -- Hail cores developed within clusters of late afternoon thunderstorms Saturday that raced southeastward across central and southeastern Ohio.

The hail ranged from dime-sized to nickel- and quarter-sized (0.5-1 inch in diameter) in various places from Marion to Powell, Westerville, Hilliard, Reynoldsburg, Buckeye Lake and the Hocking Hills.

Thunderstorms sprung up in a warm environment (low 70s) beneath a pocket of cold air aloft associated with a storm system tracking across northern Ohio, with a trailing convergence acting as the focus for lift and storm development during the warmest part of the day.

The hail brought back memories of a major hailstorm on Easter Sunday evening, April 20, 2003, when a thunderstorm over Madison County began dumping hail along a line from Hilliard to Westerville shortly before sunset.

There were places in Worthington and Westerville, near the Polaris Mall, where the hailstreak accumulated to a depth of 3 to 6 inches covering the ground like a winter snowfall. Hailstones were as big as 1.25 and 1.75 inches (golf ball-sized).

Widespread damage included dents in cars, siding and roofs, later estimated at $149 million. Spring foliage was stripped from trees and shrubs. The line of storms brought wind gusts in western Ohio of 50 mph.