This photo taken by Tyler Parenteau in Wahpeton last night shows hail larger than a golf ball. (Submitted)

By Susan McNeil

Summer storm

Wahpeton feels nature’s wrath with golf ball-sized hail

Aug 1, 2023 | 3:24 PM

At least six vehicles on the Wahpeton Dakota First Nations have broken windshields and one a broken sunroof following a storm last night.

Stephanie Bird told paNOW that it was the largest hail she has ever seen and she was glad to have been safely inside her home.

“It was like someone was sledgehammering the outside of my walls,” said Bird. “I wasn’t scared, I was blown away because I’ve never seen that size of hail in Wahpeton.”

Bird was not sure yet what damage might have been done to the roofs of homes but said the hail ‘took out’ the mirror on a school bus.

The hail, larger than a golf ball, damaged a basement window on her home but did not go right through.

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And, while her grandchildren and dogs were scared by storm, the horses were not bothered at all, she said.

One child got hit on the head by a hailstone while running into another person’s house but, while they felt some pain, had no reported injuries.

Environment Canada meteorologist Samantha Mauti said she has not seen any damage reports from the storm but added that the size of the hail makes it a severe storm.

A golf ball measures over 42 mm diameter and the report they received was for a 45 mm hailstone.

“It’s definitely in our criteria for severe storm,” said Mauti. “Anything greater than a nickel (20mm is considered part of a severe thunderstorm.”

Despite the hail, no strong winds were reported and yesterday’s storm never exceeded 90 km/hour, which is the threshold for severe gusts.

The storm started near Big River and then passed over Wahpeton Dakota before hitting Prince Albert, where only a small amount of rain was reported.

Melanie Standing Cloud said the storm lasted about seven minutes and dropped large hail in Wahpeton. (submitted/Melanie Standing Cloud)

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com