Vivian, S.D. ? A hailstone that fell in central South Dakota has set U.S. records, even though it likely shrunk after plummeting to a field, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration confirmed Friday.

a hailstone found by a ranch hand in Vivian, S.D., is shown in this photo taken July 24. The hailstone, which was found July 23, has set U.S. records. It measured 8 inches in diameter and weighed 1 pound, 15 ounces. The previous record for diameter was 7 inches for a hailstone found in Aurora, Neb., in 2003. The previous record for weight was 1.67 pounds for a stone in Coffeyville in 1970.

The stone found by a ranch hand near the town of Vivian the night of July 23 measured 8 inches in diameter and weighed 1 pound, 15 ounces.

The previous record for diameter was 7 inches for a hailstone found in Aurora, Neb., in 2003. The previous record for weight was 1.67 pounds for a stone in Coffeyville, Kan., in 1970.

The Aurora hailstone still holds the record for circumference, at 18.75 inches. The Vivian hailstone measured 18.62 inches.

NOAA’s National Climate Extremes Committee, which is responsible for validating national weather records, weighed and measured the South Dakota stone found by Leslie Scott.

Scott said earlier that the ice chunk lost about 3 inches because he was without electricity for several hours after the storm and could not keep it cold.

“I’m just glad nobody got hurt and hope the town will recover soon,” Scott said in a statement Friday.

David Hintz, warning coordination meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Aberdeen, confirmed that the hailstone at one point likely was much larger.

“Mr. Scott told me the area was littered with large hailstones and the largest had a greater diameter when he first found it,” Hintz said. “He immediately stored it and several others in his freezer, but a power outage caused some melting.”