Flights Cancelled, Vehicles Wrecked as Massive Hailstorm Hits Missouri

A powerful hailstorm has swept through Springfield, Missouri, killing a zoo animal, disrupting air travel, and causing widespread property damage across the region.

According to multiple reports, the storm struck on Tuesday, unleashing massive hailstones measuring up to 4.75 inches (12 cm) in diameter, among the largest recorded in the area.

At the Dickerson Park Zoo, a 21-year-old emu named Adam died after being struck by hail, while another bird, a rhea, was injured and placed under veterinary care. Zoo officials said staff had attempted to move animals to safety, but the emu’s instinct to lie low during danger left it vulnerable to the intense storm.

The storm also wreaked havoc at Springfield-Branson National Airport, where dozens of flights were cancelled or delayed due to damage. Hundreds of vehicles parked at the airport suffered shattered windshields and dented roofs, with officials deploying hundreds of tarps to cover affected cars.

Passengers were significantly impacted, with some forced to travel over 100 miles to nearby airports after rental vehicles were rendered unusable. Authorities confirmed that several drivers were injured during the storm as hailstones smashed through vehicle windows, while power outages affected thousands of residents.

Meteorologists described the event as a rare and intense supercell thunderstorm, driven by strong wind shear and atmospheric instability conditions that allowed hailstones to grow to destructive sizes. Emergency officials have since described it as one of the worst hailstorms in Springfield’s history.

The incident underscores the increasing severity of extreme weather events across parts of the United States, with authorities continuing to assess the full extent of damage and support affected residents.