Bizarre Bazaar

Colorado lab gets record hailstone

Monday, August 02, 2010

This photo taken July 24, 2010 provided by the NOAA National Weather Service shows a hailstone that was found by a ranch hand in Vivian, S.D., on June 23, 2010. The hailstone has set U.S records. It measured 8 inches in diameter and weighed 1 pound, 15 ounces. The previous record for diameter was 7 inches for a hailstone found in Aurora, Neb., in 2003. The previous record for weight was 1.67 pounds for a stone in Coffeyville, Kan., in 1970. ((AP Photo/National Weather Service))

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severe weather, colorado, bizarre bazaar

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) - August 2, 2010 -- North America's heaviest hailstone ever might also be its most-traveled.

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Holy Hail! That's a large stone!

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A 1-pound, 15-ounce hailstone that fell in Vivian, S.D., in July has been taken to National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colo., about 370 miles away.

Researchers there say they plan to study the giant stone.

It's not clear what tests will be done, but the lab isn't taking any chances. A tweet announcing the hailstone's arrival said, "Hey, keep that away from the margarita mix!"

The hailstone fell on July 23. Last Friday, federal climate officials confirmed it was the heaviest ever recorded on the continent.