Golf-ball sized hail and destructive winds hit West Hempstead and other areas Monday evening.
The National Weather Service issued an alert just before 5 p.m. saying that a severe storm had been located near West Hempstead and was moving southeast.
Hail up to two inches in diameter was reported in parts of Long Island and New York City, but stopped soon after. The NWS recommended residents in the storm path "take immediate action to protect life and property."
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Michelle Graci, a West Hempstead resident, sent this photo (see above) of a ball of hail that fell in the backyard of her home on Nassau Boulevard. Other residents took to Facebook describing the storm as it pummeled their homes and vehicles.
"I've never seen hail this big in my whole life! My new car is taking a beating!" Andrea Shinsato, of West Hempstead, wrote on her Facebook status.
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She said a "huge amount" of pieces of ice about the same diameter as a quarter continued to pound her vehicle for more than a half hour.
Another West Hempstead resident, Terese Russo-Santoro, added, "The hail sounds like popcorn popping.....all over the house!"
Did you get hit with the hail? Tell us in the comments or send a photo to Tara.Conry@Patch.com.
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