Much of the eastern part of the Denver metro area was pummeled by hail late Thursday night.
COLORADO, USA — Severe thunderstorms delivered destructive hail, heavy rain and lightning to much of the northern and eastern Denver metro area late Thursday night.
On Friday, residents in some areas spent much of the morning shoveling the previous night's mess.
“It sounded like somebody was playing the drums on the roof,” said Leabre McNeal, a homeowner in Denver's Green Valley Ranch neighborhood. “Then I looked outside, it was like an hour later, and it was still going.”
The storms first developed north and northeast of Denver, dropping heavy hail in Erie and Broomfield. They continued moving across eastern Denver and into Aurora, mostly clearing out just before midnight. According to the National Weather Service, the storms produced hail up to baseball size. The largest hail report was a 2.75-inch hail stone in southeast Commerce City.
RELATED: Colorado Division of Insurance shares tips after hailstorm batters metro Denver
RELATED: Here's how big the hail was that hit the Denver area
There were also several reports of egg-sized hail, or 2 inches, in Aurora, Broomfield and Henderson. A substantial number of hail reportsnoted hail larger than an inch, or quarter size, in Denver, Northglenn, Federal Heights, Thornton, Erie and Niwot.
The hail caused significant damage in Thorntonand Green Valley Ranch.
Many Green Valley Ranch residents said the storm pounded the neighborhood for at least a half-hour. The hail damaged car hoods, windshields and the siding of some homes.
“It beat the crap out of my house,” said homeowner Karen Henry Edwards. “My house was shaking. I thought the windows were going to break because it was so loud and pounding and [it sounded] just like somebody was throwing snowballs at your house for like 30-45 minutes.”
> Video below: How big was the hail that fell in Colorado during Thursday's storm?
The intensity of the storm also pulled off most of the leaves on trees in the neighborhood. Neighbors could be seen shoveling and raking into the afternoon. Some said they’ll take a hailstorm over the alternative.
“Typically wildfire starts happening right now, right?” Racquise McClain said. “The hail said: not today.”
Many of the residents said they’ve already notified their insurance companies to start claims for the damage. While this is all a headache they’re thankful they’re OK.
“That’s a blessing,” McNeal said.
“Right,” McClain said.
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Damage to Green Valley Ranch from the May 2024 hailstorm
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Hail covers yards in the Green Valley Ranch neighborhood in Denver on Friday, May 31, 2024.
Hail hits Denver area
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Monica Kasten
Credit: Monica Kasten
People in Green Valley Ranch are waking up to this mess from last nights hail storm.
— Briana Fernandez (@BrianaFernNews) May 31, 2024
These pictures were taken just east of tower road - close to DIA @9NEWS #denver pic.twitter.com/LGJkBbDcyU
— Chris Bianchi (@BianchiWeather) May 31, 2024Ugh. That was likely a billion-dollar disaster and the most destructive Denver area hailstorm since the May 2017 one, if not longer.
Gonna be a long cleanup. Will have a detailed breakdown tomorrow. #COwx
Friday, we will start the day with some minor cloud clover and seasonal highs in the upper 70s. Midday, another round of spotty storms moves back in, likely becoming strongest across the eastern front range and plains.
These areas will be under marginal and slight risks for severe weather again. People should continue to prepare for large hail, damaging winds and heavy downpours to leave the biggest impact.
Saturday, early sunshine returns and afternoon temperatures continue to rise, with highs climbing into the middle 80s. That heat will ignite more storms across the eastern half of the state. Again, the strongest storms will likely fall across the eastern plains.
RADAR:Click/tap here for Live Interactive Radar
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