Hail Storms and History

The Treaty of Brétigny would not, as hoped, put an end to the conflict that would come to be called the hundred years war, but it did represent a significant change in the conflict. What is perhaps most interesting, however, is that the treaty did not result from a military victory by one side or the other. Rather, three weeks earlier, the course of European history had been changed by a hail storm.

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This is original content based on research by The History Guy. Images in the Public Domain are carefully selected and provide illustration. As very few images of the actual event are available in the Public Domain, images of similar objects and events are used for illustration.

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Script by THG

#history #thehistoryguy #Hail

[dougtaylor]

I live in west Texas. I remember a hail storm one year that destroyed a cotton crop in a way that’s hard to forget. The plants were about 6” tall. After the storm, not only were they beaten up, but each plant had been sheared off at the ground and then the rain washed all the debris to the low end of the field. The storm destroyed the crop and then cleaned up the mess. It looked like it hadn’t even been planted.

[edgardner]

What I've always love about the show is not only the content but trying to figure out what the items are on the bookshelf in the background.

[General_Confusion]

There was so much hail in England last year that i had to buy some extra bottles of Gin and Tonic to mix it all with.

[roderickcampbell]

My brother told me that he was knocked unconscious by a hailstone in Alberta, Canada while fishing. Since I have often been fishing with him and having many adventures I was just as glad to have missed that one. He has been known to throw rocks at mother bears so I guess he's asking for trouble.

[jabbertwardy]

I experienced the Mayfest Storm on May 5, 1995 in the DFW area. That was a hail storm for the history books!

[robertstout]

I've been in the D/FW area continuously since 1972, I must've forgotten the 1981 storm, the worst in my recollection was in early May, 1995.

It was the first singular thunderstorm with a damage toll exceeding $1 billion and at the time the costliest nontornadic thunderstorm in U.S. history.

Hail up to 4.5 in (11.5 cm) in diameter fell across Parker and Tarrant counties, producing hail drifts as deep as 3 ft (0.91 m) and damaging numerous buildings.

Largest hail: 4.5 in (11 cm)
Fatalities: 20 fatalities
Damage: $2 billion
Areas affected: Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex

[johnnunn]

I have an experience with hail. I was in Perth, Western Australia and had just been given a brand new work Ute, a Toyota Hilux and I’d put just 1, 000 km on it. I arrived at work, parked and got out. As I did so, I was hit on the shoulder by a lump of ice, the size of an acorn but could see hail of golf ball or bigger size hitting the ground. I ran for the door of the office and went inside, where I spent ten minutes watching my new Ute get destroyed. The only panel not dented, was the left hand A pillar. You can look it up but the car insurance bill ran into several billion.

[brecwilshusen]

Excellent compilation. Makes me also wonder if any pirate ships were sunk by hail storms.

[amadeusamwater]

Yes, we in Iowa were here for yesterday's hail. The worst of it was west of us. The worst hail damage here comes a little later when the crops are well up, then the hail destroys them and the farmers have to replant, hoping there is still enough growing season left.

[robertneal]

The largest hailstone I have ever seen crashed through the skylight in the gymnasium in Hemingford, Nebraska. It was, as most large hailstones are, a collection of many hailstones brought together by the intensity of the storm. After landing on the gym floor and having a few hours to melt, a custodian found it. It was roughly the size and shape of a Nerf Football.

[tgill]

Last year on May 30 a hail storm came through our valley in Western Colorado and wiped out thousands of newly planted gardens through out the community. Mine included, bummer. We are in the high desert where these events are rarely experienced. Fortunately, no human lives were lost however I suspect the song bird population took a beating. Thank you History Guy for connecting our world, past and present.

[markt.]

Here in NE Indiana hail is not rare, but damaging hail is not common. About four years ago, everyone in a swath about a mile wide and four or five miles long got new roofs due to a hail storm. Our house and small barn were among them.

We were away as the non-English speaking crew was finishing up our work and arrived just as they completed re-roofing our small chicken coop, which was not part of the original arrangement. I'm likely the only person in NE Indiana with "50 year shingles" protecting their chickens!

[elcastorgrande]

We had hail here in NYC a week ago tomorrow. My wife and I were out walking when it hit. Fortunately, lasted a short time, and small hail.

[SirStevenGilroy]

I thought the timing was intentional, after that hail storm we had last night, and was impressed by how quickly you had put together this video. That it was coincidental timing is rather amusing. (We're from the same town; hello, neighbour!)

[RetiredSailor]

Good morning from Ft Worth TX to everyone watching.

[bobanonymouse]

I lived in the Metroplex in 1981 when that storm hit. I worked at a GM dealership. The hoods of some of the early 80's GM cars were made of aluminum. The hail beat down the sheet metal, stripped the paint & made it look as if the top of the engine was wrapped in aluminum foil.

[tsbrownie]

I was driving through Colorado when they had their worst hail storm ever. It came on quickly and the stones that hit my car dented the roof and hood in like someone had been jumping on it. They were golf ball size and maybe a bit bigger. Farther south the hail broke down the roofs of stores and crushed car roofs flat. Pictures I saw later on the news showed those were softball sized. I can see how it would kill someone out in the open.

[pamelamays]

It must be so fun to choose a bow tie that ties in with the episode being recorded on a particular day.
And also, an appropriate neon light.

[Jbot]

Allegedly, while he was a weatherman, David Letterman once reported hail "the size of canned hams."

[aprilrichards]

A dear friend of mine got a new but badly dented pick up after a hailstorm struck Austin, TX many years ago.

In my area, the Pittsburgh, PA area, May 31st is the day we watch out for. Historically, if we are goung to have severe weather, it will be that day! A list includes:

1889, the great Johnstown Flood
1985, massive tornado outbreak that spawned so far Pennsylvania 's only F/EF-5 tornado
1986, severe flooding
1998, a multiday out break that began on May 31st and ended on June 2nd
2002, the Kennywood Park Microburst that killed one woman.
There are others but those i recall off the top of my head.