Hail Reported in Northeast Ohio May 7, 2012
Some Northeast Ohio communities unintentionally commemorated the the second anniversary of the May 7, 2010 hail storms with another storm with reported hail on May 7, 2012. The National Weather Service (NWS) posted the following preliminary data:
NW Jefferson, Ashtabula County, 1- 1/4 inches reported by the public
Ashtabula, Ashtabula County, 7/8 inches reported by the public
North Youngstown, Mahoning County, 1 inch reported by the public
Medina, Medina County, 3/4 to 1 inch reported by the public
Richland, Shelby County, 1 inch reported by a trained spotter
Navarre, Stark County, 1 inch reported by the public
East Warren, Trumbull County, 3/4 inch reported by a trained spotter
Cortland, Vienna, Trumbull County, 1 inch reported by the public
Vienna, Trumbull County, 3/4 inch reported by a trained spotter and an airplane pilot
Hubbard, Trumbull County, 1 to 1-1/4 inches reported by the public
The sizes of the reported hail have not been verified by the NWS. These are reports by the witness categories listed. Our experience has taught us that the actual size experienced has often times been smaller than what has been reported.
The size of the hail at a particular site may be estimated after the storm by the review of eyewitness photographs and/or videos of the hail (preferable with a common object that can provide a scale for the size), the size of the indentations in deformable materials such as metal flashings, the size of the splash or spatter marks on exposed surfaces, the size of indentations on wood surfaces, the size of indentations on the metal fins of an air conditioner, etc.
The sizes reported are capable of indenting some light gauge metal building components and may be capable of damaging some composite asphalt shingles. Visual and tactile examination of the shingles and metals by trained and experienced personal can determine whether or not there has been functional hail damage to these.