... apocalyptic hailstorm with hail larger than softballs hits Cordoba, Argentina

Giant hail fell Thursday, February 8, 2018, in the city of Cordoba, Argentina. The hail started around 4:30 in the afternoon. At first, it was “tiny and fun,” but then it changed. Hailstones larger than tennis balls began to fall from the sky, eventually growing to mammoth size as a stone of 7.1 inches hit the ground almost intact. This hailstone falls short of the U.S. record holder, an 8-inch hailstone that fell in Vivian, S.D., on July 23, 2010. The hail lasted 20 minutes. It was kind of terrifying.

giant hailstone hits Cordoba, Argentina on February 8, 2018. By Victoria Druetta

The stone looks to be up to 18 centimeters in diameter — 7.1 inches — at its largest width, which could be a record for the Southern Hemisphere.

The hailstone is about the same size as an average honeydew melon.