Hail Leaves Damage In Stillwater

By Emory Bryan, The News On 6

STILLWATER, OK -- Hail stones the size of tennis balls were reported in Payne County on Friday morning.  The storm had some strong winds, but the damage came from the hail on the north side of Stillwater.

The storm blew through just after 9 a.m.  The hail was thick enough to strip the leaves off trees and big enough to break through car windshields.

"It sounded like an M-80 firecracker going off inside and after that second one hit the windshield, we got some on the roof even louder," said Don Reiley of Stillwater.

Friday afternoon was beautiful in Stillwater.  The clear sky was perfect for repairing windshields.  Don Reiley just had his replaced.

"We were getting the normal hail stones this size and all of a sudden, BAM!  There was this explosion and the windshields gone and you can't see through it on her side," said Don Reiley.

All the damage is good for business at the glass and body repair shops.

"Anything from windows, back glass, door glass, windshields, everything is busted out," said Chance Townsend with City Glass.

Included in the damage was rooftop glass in a greenhouse at OSU and windows in student housing.  Dozens of cars had broken windows and dents.  And, considering the beating the trees took, it's certain that many homes will have roof damage    

Thomas Tower was caught in the storm.

"I was in my front seat acting like I was holding up my front windshield because I thought it was going to break and all of a sudden my back window was gone, so," said Thomas Tower.

The worst of the damage in Stillwater was in a neighborhood just north of the OSU campus.