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Monday's Hail, Severe Storms: 'Never Seen Anything Like It'

CENTENNIAL, Colo. (CBS4) - Monday's severe storms included some quarter-sized hail that hammered down on Centennial.

"Never seen anything like it. Only thing close would be a tornado," Eric Risch, an employee at Arapahoe Hyundai, said. "Quarter-sized hail just ripping through the air."

Monday's raging storm damaged more than 500 cars and shattered windows in the dealership's maintenance shop.

Severe Weather In The Denver Metro Area On Sept. 29
Hail damage at the Arapahoe Hyundai dealership (credit: Arapahoe Hyundai)

Risch said damage to cars' windows was severe.

"It's tempered glass. It takes a lot to do that," he said. "The fact it was coming in with such velocity that it could do that was pretty impressive."

PHOTO GALLERY: Monday's Severe Weather

Sales manager Ray Saccomano said the hail seemed to come out of nowhere at approximately 2 p.m. It blew in so fast and with such fury that his cars never stood a chance.

"Wind started coming in and all of a sudden it looked like it was snowing in September," he said. "What kind of pressure do you need to do something like this? A lot of pressure."

Severe Weather In The Denver Metro Area On Sept. 29
Sales manager Ray Saccomano at Arapahoe Hyundai shows CBS4's Tom Mustin one of the cars that was damaged by hail. (credit: CBS)

Across town, Florida transplant Regan Matthews heard hail pounding the roof of her office building. She looked outside in amazement.

"I've never, never seen anything like that before... ever," she said.

Severe Weather In The Denver Metro Area On Sept. 29
Barb and Gary Pederson took this photo in Highlands Ranch.

The quarter-sized hail pounded her car.

"My co-worker said, 'Hey I need to talk to you,' and I was like, 'Don't even say it.' He was like, 'Your back window is smashed out.' "

Elsewhere in Centennial, as resident Don Romek surveyed damaged to the paint and windows at his home, he started re-evaluating his travel plans.

"We're going to go to Phoenix in the winter," he said, "and we may leave earlier."

Severe Weather In The Denver Metro Area On Sept. 29
Kelly Vranesic of Highlands Ranch took this photo of a lawn chair that was destroyed by the hail.
Severe Weather In The Denver Metro Area On Sept. 29
Shelby Downs of Highlands Ranch took this photo at Mountain Vista High School.
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