DISCLAIMER: This was a dangerous situation. While a tree can offer a degree of protection from hail impacts to your vehicle, do not park under a tree during a severe thunderstorm unless it is low profile with a thick, sturdy trunk and thin branches like the one in this video. Also, duck down and face away from any potential broken glass. If you are on the road and find yourself caught in the path of a storm like this, find the nearest gas station or underpass if possible, but do not block traffic! Otherwise, brace yourself and shield your eyes from potential broken glass.
Amazingly, my vehicle received no damage thanks to the tree in this scenario. Only that first stone made a little dent just behind the windshield. I feel bad for anyone that was on the road!
I estimated about 2-inch hail (slightly larger than golf ball) where I was, although 3-inch hail was nearby, blasting out windows across the northwestern suburbs of Norman. A wind gust of 69 mph was also reported at the airport in town. This is what you call an extremely severe thunderstorm! (The worst I've been in by far)
As a meteorologist, this was an embarrassing position to be in... I had initially underestimated the strength of the storm until the warning text was upgraded just as it was bearing down on me and radar reflectivity jumped from about 60 dBZ to 70+ dBZ in a short period of time. It was too late to escape or find a gas station in a rural area like this.
Note: This is all RAW footage, except for the weather radio recording at the beginning, which was in my apartment while I was gone.
Other nearby perspectives of this storm:
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Damage downtown:
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