We just had a HUGE storm.
By Marie Coyle
@MarieCoyle (54937)
February 19, 2026 1:50am CST
This was a whopper!
It's been really windy and humid all evening and night. I heard thunder for over and hour and lightning was flashing like crazy. We got severe storm warnings on the phone. And then it really let loose! It literally poured hail for about 10 minutes, and it was very loud. I went out on the back porch for a minute to look, the ground is white. Finally, it moved on out.
But now, we are having warnings of another one right behind it. There is currently only one storm band in Illinois, and we are in it. Time will tell if it blows over or hits us, but it would be hard to be louder than that one was. It's been a long time since I have seen that much hail pound down all at once.
We still have power. It blinked for a bit during the worst of the hail but we are still on. We were asleep but of course, now we are not, and waiting to see if we get hit again. My son made the comment he was so glad I had a garage for the car. He thinks tomorrow there will be a lot of damaged cars from this, he may well be right.
14 people like this
13 responses
@wolfgirl569 (129853)
• Marion, Ohio
22h
Those can be scary. Hope the next one missed you
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (54937)
•
16h
I hope you don't get hit, too. I know things often just roll on east of here.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (129853)
• Marion, Ohio
14h
@MarieCoyle That they do. So far nothing big predicted.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (54937)
•
13h
@wolfgirl569
We are in a severe draught here even with all the snow we’ve had. I should not complain as we need the moisture.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (54937)
•
16h
The bad storm last night was the worst hail I have seen in several years. I am doing my best to keep us safe, thanks, Anna.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (493640)
• Italy
4h
@MarieCoyle - Hail is really bad, when we had serious damages the stones were as big as golf balls.
@celticeagle (185809)
• Boise, Idaho
15h
We had a snowstorm here yesterday. it started light and built to where I could hardly see the main street two blocks away.
Glad you still have power. Stay safe.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (54937)
•
16h
We did have the second storm, not long after the first. Thankfully, it was not as bad. This evening, there are to be more storms and high winds, time will tell. Thank you.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (88741)
• United States
21h
Wow that does sound like a really bad storm. Hope you didn't get hit with a second one.
I'm sure your son is right about damaged cars from the hail. I'm glad we have a garage for our car too.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (54937)
•
16h
We had a friend get caught in a bad hailstorm a few years ago. He lost his windshield on the interstate, and so much damage from hail, they totaled out his car.
@AmbiePam (113040)
• United States
21h
We got hit so hard with hail storms two years in a row, and I remember every car in our parking lot was totaled. I had learned my lesson after the first hail storm and parked under the church’s sheltered drive through. What was terrible was that so many people in my apartment complex had liability only.
I’m so glad you had your car protected too.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (54937)
•
16h
Good plan that you have a back-up to park if needed. I know Oklahoma is famous for bad storms!
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (203162)
• United States
21h
Gee, you really seem to be in a bad weather area. Maybe it is just this winter that is nuts. Glad you have a garage too!
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (54937)
•
16h
It's generally not as nuts as it's been in the past 6 months or so.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (83078)
• United States
22h
Keep an eye on things, that was round one. It’s supposed to get bad when the cold front comes through. (That storm was from the warm front.)
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (54937)
•
16h
We are supposed to get more later. I am as ready for the ''maybe'' as I can be. The one thing I dread is loss of power, but it can't be helped when it happens.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (118456)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
14h
Sorry to learn that your home was hit by a storm.
@LindaOHio (214188)
• United States
22h
I saw some really bad storms on the radar that are heading this way. I'm glad you and your son are OK and that your car was in the garage.
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (92913)
• Bangalore, India
19 Feb
Stay safe. Just praying that the second one passes without causing much trouble and damage.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (54937)
•
19 Feb
The second storm is over, more are supposed to happen later today. The second one was loud, but not hardly any hail, so it's ok. Thank you so much.
@Nakitakona (59866)
• Philippines
19 Feb
The strength of storm or typhoon is measured by its speed. Your huge storm what's its speed?
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (54937)
•
13h
It wasn’t a typhoon like storm. They move through like a bad thunderstorm, and it hails instead of raining.
