Storm pounds El Paso with softball-size hail

A severe hail storm that pounded parts of El Paso County Monday afternoon sent eight people who were visiting the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo to the hospital with hail related injuries, killed three zoo birds and injured other animals.

Softball-size hail was reported about three miles south of Colorado Springs and hail at the zoo broke out windows and skylights. The National Weather Service said the storm moved through Fountain, Security and Falcon with wind gusts up to 60 mph.

At the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, 3,400 guests were evacuated because of the hail storm. Many were taken by bus to Cheyenne Mountain High School where an emergency center was set up.

“It was hail the size I’ve never seen before,” said Jenny Koch, marketing director of the zoo. “Basically chunks of ice.”

Three birds — two vultures and a duck — were killed by hail at the zoo. “It’s frightening,” Koch said. The zoo will be closed on Tuesday.

The five-star Broadmoor hotel was also pounded by hail Monday for about 10 minutes.

“It was a significant storm,” said Barry Brown, vice president of sales and marketing. Hotel staff was assessing damage to the property and checking on guest vehicles in the parking areas.

Hail also hit parts of Weld and Morgan counties Monday after the Colorado Springs storm.

Photos by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette Broadmoor Hotel employee Carlton Burton shovels leaves and hail after a storm Monday damaged trees, vehicles and buildings in the Colorado Springs area.

Hail the size of baseballs hit near the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs after a storm hit parts of El Paso County on Monday.