A sudden, violent hailstorm hammered parts of Steuben County on Thursday, dropping ice chunks up to 3 inches wide — larger than baseballs — and blanketing the ground in white, according to local residents.
According to Syracuse.com, the storm hit hardest in Pulteney and Prattsburgh near Keuka Lake. Azure Hill Winery co-owners Joe Sheehy and Leslie Knipe described the hail hitting like “softballs,” with visibility dropping to zero. Some grapevines were damaged, raising concerns for next year’s crop.
Local resident Rosemary Loveland thought a tornado was approaching as swirling winds and pounding hail rocked her home. Her husband, Don, struggled to drive through the whiteout, calling the storm “scary” and disorienting.
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