When the first echo of thunder rolled over the rooftops, no one imagined the nightmare that was seconds away.
The quiet evening dissolved into chaos as the sky split open, hurling down hailstones so fierce they sounded like fists pounding on every home in town.
Neighbors dove for cover as ice the size of golf balls — and in some places, baseballs — slammed against cars and shattered windshields.
In the dark flashes of lightning, people watched roofs take hits that shook entire walls, each impact a reminder of how suddenly nature can turn. When the storm finally loosened its grip, the streets were unrecognizable: carpets of ice, broken branches, and debris scattered like the aftermath of a battle no one was prepared for.
