Hail yes, it’s big: Record hailstone taken from South Dakota to Colorado lab for study

Hail yes, it’s big: Colo lab gets record hailstone

BOULDER, Colo. — North America’s heaviest hailstone ever might also be its most-traveled.

A 1-pound, 15-ounce hailstone that fell in Vivian, S.D., on July 23 has been taken to the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colo., about 370 miles away.

Charles Knight, a scientist at the center, plans to cast plaster replicas for researchers, a South Dakota museum and Leslie Scott, the ranch hand who found it.

Knight says he’ll then cut it in two and photograph its internal rings.

The hailstone is being stored in a freezer, but the lab isn’t taking any chances. A tweet announcing the hailstone’s arrival said, “Hey, keep that away from the margarita mix!”

Federal climate officials have confirmed the hailstone is the heaviest ever recorded on the continent.