San Antonio in the Spotlight: 7 Must-Know Updates Driving Today’s Buzz

San Antonio residents endured a dramatic Memorial Day finale Monday night as a fast-moving supercell unloaded hail ranging from golf-ball to grapefruit size across the city’s northwest and far-west neighborhoods. Social media lit up with photos of cracked windshields and shredded patio furniture while thunder rolled and cloud-to-ground lightning flashed above Loop 1604 and Highway 151. Meteorologists at the National Weather Service placed the region under a Level 2 (Slight) severe-storm risk; by 8 p.m., that risk turned into reality as the storm’s core tracked from Helotes toward Alamo Ranch, then drifted south over Lackland AFB, pelting rooftops with ice stones up to four inches wide. While the hail created costly damage, the system also delivered desperately needed moisture. San Antonio has recorded barely 50 percent of its average rainfall so far in 2025, leaving lawns brittle and aquifer levels near Stage 2 drought triggers. Monday’s downpour temporarily boosted soil moisture, but experts caution that isolated storms won’t erase a multi-month deficit. Power flashes reported along Culebra Road hinted at scattered outages, and insurance adjusters expect a spike in auto and roof claims beginning Tuesday morning. “If you discovered dents or broken shingles, document everything with photos before contacting your insurer,” advised local agent Maria Gutierrez. She recommends scheduling reputable contractors quickly, as demand for repairs spikes after large-hail events. Looking ahead, forecasters say the atmosphere remains primed for more severe weather. Another disturbance is projected to sweep through South-Central Texas late Tuesday night into early Wednesday, carrying the same ingredients—elevated dewpoints, a mid-level jet streak, and an approaching dryline—that fueled Monday’s storm. Residents should: • Park vehicles under cover or in garages. • Bring pets and patio plants indoors. • Secure loose outdoor décor and trash bins. • Enable wireless emergency alerts on smartphones. If hail starts falling, stay away from windows and move to an interior room. Large hailstones accelerate to speeds over 70 mph, easily shattering glass. Travelers should monitor flight status at San Antonio International Airport, where ramp operations may pause during intense lightning. VIA Metropolitan Transit warns riders to expect intermittent delays and detours Tuesday evening. Despite the headaches, some locals still found a silver lining. “It’s the most rain my garden has seen in months,” joked Leon Valdez of Alamo Ranch, holding two baseball-sized hailstones destined for his freezer. Still, he conceded the storm served as a “wake-up call” to prep for the heart of Texas severe-weather season, which typically runs through early June. Stay tuned to trusted outlets, including the National Weather Service, KSAT-12, and KENS 5, for real-time radar updates and any future hail or tornado warnings. With the pattern staying active, San Antonio could experience additional rounds of booming thunder and ice-pellets before summer’s heat firmly settles in.