Snapped like a matchstick

We've been in this weather pattern for at least a week now, where thunderstorms travel through our area after sunset. Last night was the worst one yet, with lots of lightning, rain and hail. But then it took a turn towards scary.

I was standing over near the fireplace in the front living room when I heard a high pitched whistling, screaming sort of noise. The wind was whipping the rain and light hail in the opposite direction all of a sudden, so there was definitely some sort of circulation going on rather than just straight line winds. Then I heard several loud cracks and a thud. When the next round of lightning illuminated the front yard, I saw that we lost part of a tree. Thankfully it fell smack in-between the house and older daughter's car parked out front on the pad off the driveway.

We had some golf ball sized hail that was reallllllly loud as it crashed onto the roof and smacked up against the windows. Thankfully, everything - besides the tree - seems to be in good shape this morning. The pool and patio area looks like a war zone, with leaves and moss everywhere, but I've already been out there cleaning it up with the help of the older daughter. 

I get lulled into forgetting how dangerous the forces of nature can be, at times. I'm just glad none of our neighbors had anything similar happen in their yards.