Hailstorm Leaves Significant Damage in Williamson and Travis Counties
By Matthew Collier
Reporting Texas TV
ROUND ROCK, Texas – A large hailstorm damaged many homes and vehicles in Georgetown, Round Rock and Austin on Sept. 24.
The hailstorm began in northwestern Williamson County and increased in severity as it moved southeast through Georgetown and into Round Rock, where homeowners dealt with extensive property damage.
Round Rock homeowner Onur, who asked to only be identified by his first name, said he received an alert about 15 minutes before the hail hit his neighborhood.
“The message was actually clear when I think about it, I just wasn’t expecting anything like that. I was just expecting a normal hail,” Onur said.
“We could only move our car back into our garage… the other damages, we couldn’t do anything even if we knew before.”
The hailstorm dented cars and cracked windows in Round Rock, Texas, on Sept. 30, 2023. (Matthew Collier/Reporting Texas TV)
National Weather Service meteorologist Andrew Quigley said there were signs that indicated the impending hailstorm, as well as how severe it would be.
“We had a very unstable air mass, and a front to help focus thunderstorm development along,” Quigley said.
“Once those thunderstorms developed, they were able to work in tandem with the wind shear we had in place across the area, allowing them to stay organized and reach severe levels.”
The hailstorm formed from a supercell thunderstorm that produced enough upward motion to keep hail suspended in the air where it could grow to over three inches in diameter.
The storm increased in severity as it moved through Georgetown and into Round Rock area, where homeowners dealt with extensive property damage.
The storm continued through Austin but weakened as it neared the airport and stopped producing hail.
A single car dealership in Round Rock reported over 750 damaged vehicles and $27 million in damages.
The City of Round Rock advises those affected by hail damage to contact insurance providers immediately for estimates.