Baseball-sized hail storms batter Missouri, causing widespread damage

A powerful hailstorm with ice stones the size of baseballs has struck the US state of Missouri, Fox News reports.

The severe weather began on Tuesday, 28 April. The hail caused significant damage to vehicles in parking lots, with some cars having their rear and windshields smashed. Local residents said the hailstones were comparable in size to baseballs.

Dickerson Park Zoo in Springfield was also heavily affected. While visitors and staff were not injured, several animals were impacted. A 21-year-old emu could not be saved after the storm. A rhea was also injured due to the extreme weather conditions. The zoo has been temporarily closed to visitors.