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Giant Hail Batters Springfield as Zoo Reopens After Deadly Storm

Officials call it Springfield’s worst hailstorm in history.

Overview

  • The supercell that struck Springfield on Tuesday dropped hail measured at 4 inches, with a separate report of a 4.75-inch stone.
  • Dickerson Park Zoo says a 21-year-old emu named Adam died from head trauma and the injured rhea, Oscar, is doing well after treatment.
  • The zoo reopened Thursday with some small birds kept off exhibit while crews repair damaged skylights.
  • Springfield-Branson National Airport reported dozens of flight disruptions and hundreds of shattered car windows, and staff placed 300 to 400 tarps on vehicles.
  • City Utilities logged more than 10,100 power outages and warned of hail-damaged gas meters, as meteorologists explained a powerful supercell updraft can grow hail this large, which still falls short of Missouri’s 6-inch record from 2004.