Sudden hailstorm causes $1 million in damage to Tennessee Ford dealership
There were nearly 200 vehicles exposed across the lot, and all of them suffered damage ranging from smashed sunroofs, tail lights and headlights, to countless dings and dents across their hoods and frames.
Hail storm causes $1 million damage at Tennessee car dealership
A sudden thunderstorm dropped ping-pong-sized hail over a Ford dealership in Bolivar, Tennessee Monday afternoon, damaging hundreds of cars to the tune of around $1 million.
BOLIVAR, Tenn. — A Ford dealership in Bolivar, Tennessee is picking up the pieces and surveying the costly damage after a massive hail storm suddenly swept through town Monday afternoon.
"It lasted about 5 minutes," Bolivar Ford dealership manager Cody Waddell told FOX Weather. "Blue skies (then the storm) gave us no warning — just kind of blew in, and the rest is history."
Video from employees showed the parking lot being blasted with torrential ping-pong to golf-ball-sized hail.
Large hail storm strikes dealership in Bolivar, Tennessee on April 8, 2024.
(Bolivar Ford (left) / FOX Weather (right) / FOX Weather)
Waddell said there were nearly 200 vehicles exposed across the lot, and all of them suffered damage ranging from smashed sunroofs, tail lights and headlights, to countless dings and dents across their hoods and frames. Some of the damage was on vehicles retailing for $80,000-$100,000.
HOLY HAIL! WHAT CAUSES THE DIFFERENCES IN HAIL SIZE?
"Kind of shocked us all," Waddell said of the sudden hail storm.
Waddell estimated the damage would be around or even exceed $1 million. In addition, their dealership roof sustained damage in the storm.
Amid the mounds of insurance paperwork on deck, the dealership says it plans on eventually holding a "hail sale."