Texas Severe Storm Line Produces Grapefruit-Size Hail in Hill Country as Thunderstorms Push Toward Waco, Temple, and Killeen
RIO FRIO, TEXAS — A developing line of severe thunderstorms across the Texas Hill Country Tuesday evening produced grapefruit-size hail while organizing into a larger storm system expected to push east toward Waco, Temple, and Killeen over the next several hours.
Radar imagery around 8 p.m. showed multiple storms intensifying west of the Interstate 35 corridor, with several cells producing extremely large hail and strong lightning as they tracked east across central Texas.
Severe Storms Intensifying Across the Hill Country
Storm activity first intensified across portions of the Texas Hill Country, where individual supercell storms developed and produced hail measuring up to the size of a grapefruit.
Photos taken near Rio Frio show massive hailstones collected after the storm passed through, highlighting the intensity of the storms forming in the region. Grapefruit-size hail is considered extremely dangerous and can cause significant damage to vehicles, roofs, and property while posing serious risk to anyone caught outdoors.
Line of Storms Organizing West of Interstate 35
Weather radar from the KGRK Fort Hood radar site showed a line of storms gradually taking shape west of I-35, stretching across parts of central Texas.
The radar imagery indicated storms developing from areas near Brownwood and Stephenville southward toward storms forming near Fredericksburg and Kerrville. Meteorologists noted that as the storms begin forming into a more organized line, they are likely to track eastward toward communities along the Interstate 35 corridor.
Waco, Temple, and Killeen in the Path of the Storms
Forecast tracking suggests the storms will move east across central Texas during the evening hours, placing Waco, Temple, and Killeen in the potential path of the severe weather.
While forecasters say storms may gradually weaken as they approach the corridor, the strongest cells could still produce large hail and damaging winds as they move through the region. Residents in these areas should remain alert for rapidly changing weather conditions and monitor local weather alerts.
Large Hail and Damaging Winds Remain Possible
Even if storms weaken somewhat overnight, the environment across central Texas remains supportive of large hail and strong wind gusts.
Storms with intense updrafts can continue producing damaging hail even as the overall storm line begins to lose strength. Communities along the I-35 corridor, including Waco, Temple, and Killeen, may still experience strong storms as the system progresses eastward.
Storm Monitoring Continues Across Central Texas
Meteorologists continue tracking the evolving storm system as it organizes across the Hill Country and pushes toward central Texas communities.
Residents across the region are encouraged to stay weather aware and follow local updates as storms move east across the state. Forecasters will continue monitoring the system overnight as severe weather conditions remain possible across parts of central Texas.
I’ve lived in Naperville long enough to see how quickly our community changes — from new developments downtown to sudden shifts in our Midwest weather. Reporting on Naperville news and daily forecasts gives me the chance to keep neighbors informed about what really matters. My goal is simple: deliver clear, timely updates so you always know what’s happening in our city and what to expect from the skies above.