20 years ago on this morning was one of the most destructive hail storms in Wichita history, causing $70 million in damage.
On April 24, 2006, a pair of elevated supercell thunderstorms developed just to the west and northwest of Wichita.
The storms pounded Sedgwick County with larger-than-baseball-sized hail during a 20-minute period. It started in Goddard, at about 6:30 a.m., then came into the western and central parts of Wichita during the 7:00 a.m. hour, generally between Kellogg & 13th Street North, and into the downtown area.
Another area of golf ball-sized hail fell east of the Canal Route, near the Highway K-96 corridor on the northeast side of town.
There was widespread damage to cars, homes, and businesses. Wichita's Botanica gardens sustained damage, and some golf courses with torn-up greens and sizable divots closed for the day.
Wichita's 2006 hail storm: Baseball-sized ice caused $70 million in damage during rush hour.
National Weather Service/Wichita
