Storm brings high wind, large hail

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HANCOCK COUNTY — A strong cell of thunderstorms passed through the county Friday evening, dumping heavy rain, rattling homes with booming thunder and dropping hailstones as big as tennis balls and baseballs.

A number of power outages were reported, but the county appeared to escape widespread disruption. Electricity went out at the Hancock County 4-H Fair as people sought shelter, but it was restored after about 10 minutes.

Emergency management officials did not report any damage from the storm.

Social media posts in the first hour after the storm Friday evening showed posters from the southwestern part of the county holding hailstones of various sizes, ranging from walnut-size to as large as a baseball. Roofing contractors posted that they would be looking for business starting on Saturday.

The storm, which swept in from the northwest, increased in intensity as it moved southeast at about 7:30 p.m. It was part of a pattern of weather that will continue to bring significant chances of more rain on Saturday.