On the evening of July 19th, some areas of Ningwu County in Shanxi Province, China, were hit by a sudden hailstorm. Witnesses described the hailstones as very large, with a diameter of approximately 4 to 5 centimeters. The hailstorm lasted for nearly an hour, accumulating to a thickness of about 10 centimeters. The road surface in the Luya Mountain Scenic Area was covered with a thick layer of hail, resembling a blanket of snow.
A viral video circulating online showed the roads covered with hail, creating a snow-like scenery from afar. The person filming the video mentioned that the hail was about 10 centimeters thick, and some vehicles were damaged by the impact. In the Luya Mountain Scenic Area located in Dongzhai Town, Ningwu County, the accumulated hail on the road surface presented a vast white landscape.
According to reports from mainland China media, a witness named Ms. Wang stated that the hailstones were exceptionally large, measuring approximately 4 to 5 centimeters in diameter. Several vehicle windshields were shattered by the hail, and the hailstorm persisted for nearly an hour, resulting in a layer of hail about 10 centimeters thick.
Another witness, Ms. Li, recounted her experience of being at the Tiantchi Lake Group when the hailstorm started as small hailstones but quickly escalated in size, accompanied by rain. Some of the hailstones reached a diameter of 4 to 5 centimeters, causing damage to numerous vehicle windows. As they were descending the mountain, several accidents occurred, causing a significant traffic jam. The hailstorm lasted from around 5:10 in the afternoon until 6:30, constituting extreme weather conditions that, although not uncommon in the area, were notably severe this time.
A witness who spoke to JiMu News shared her account of camping at the Luya Mountain Scenic Area of Ningwu County on the 19th. During the hailstorm between 5 pm and 6 pm, the hailstones were exceptionally large, measuring approximately 6 to 10 centimeters thick. Descending from the mountain, there was a traffic accident that led to a prolonged traffic congestion.
The staff at the Luya Mountain Scenic Area confirmed that no injuries were reported due to the hailstorm and that the cleanup operations have been completed, allowing normal traffic flow to resume.
At 5:37 pm on July 19th, Ningwu County Meteorological Observatory issued an orange hailstorm warning alert.