Greetings the size of golf balls fell in a thunderstorm and damaged cars and shattered windows as extreme heat warnings prevailed in England.
Katie Jaffar of Kibworth Beauchamp, in Leicestershire, said both of their family cars were a “total write-off” and that they were “hidden in big dents”.
Several roads also immersed in the East of England as the temperature of 30C (85F) turned into heavy rain and hail.
The Met Office had earlier issued an orange warning for thunderstorms.
The hailstorm hit Leicestershire around 18.15 BST, with some car windows wiped out.
“One moment, the children were playing with their friends in the children’s pool, and it was wonderfully warm,” said Mrs Jaffar said. According to her, the hail’s power burst through a large skylight at her mother’s house nearby, and water flooded the corridor.
“Our neighbours’ cellars were flooded, and there was water all the way to the front door,” said Mrs Jaffar said.
“It was just as scary how fast it happened and the damage it did.”
Several Twitter users broke videos of the downpour, photos of the giant hail and car windows.
Primary school teacher Phil Morrish, 53, who is an avid weatherman, said he sent photos of friends in Kibworth town.
“People are shocked about it,” he said. ‘There are quite a few cars damaged by this huge hail.
“It’s crazy weather. The hailstones are 3-5 cm big.”
Police have closed the A6 Harborough Road, near Kibworth, in both directions due to flooding. Leicestershire police said it had handled an event and urged motorists to find alternative ways. Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service has urged people not to “try to drive through floodwaters”.
Extreme heat warnings, which alert people to the risk of sunburn and heat exhaustion, are until Friday.