Any thunderstorm which produces hail that reaches the ground is known as a hailstorm. [5] An ice crystal with a diameter of >5 mm (0.20 in) is considered a hailstone. [4]

Hail falls when it becomes heavy enough to overcome the strength of the thunderstorm updraft and is pulled toward the earth by gravity. Smaller hailstones can be blown away from the updraft by …

Nov 26, 2025 · hail, precipitation of balls or pieces of ice with a diameter of 5 mm (about 0.2 inch) to more than 15 cm (about 6 inches). In contrast, ice pellets (sleet; sometimes called small hail) have a …

Feb 4, 2024 · Hail is a type of solid precipitation that forms during thunderstorms. It consists of balls or irregular lumps of ice, known as hailstones. Unlike snow and sleet, hail is most common in the …

May 31, 2021 · If you are caught outside in a severe hailstorm and cannot find shelter, protect your head, and stay away from low-lying areas that may flood. Also stay away from trees as they can lose …

Aug 12, 2025 · Hail is a type of solid rain made up of balls or lumps of ice. Storms that produce hail which reaches the ground are known as hailstorms. They typically last for no more than 15 minutes …

Oct 19, 2023 · Hail is supercooled water, which is refrozen in the atmosphere, before falling back to the ground as a sizable ice ball. Hail can cause severe damage to life and property, like this minivan …

Explore hailstorm alerts, forecasts, and safety tips to protect yourself and your property from hail damage.

It’s not just raindrops that fall during thunderstorms. Sometimes ice falls too. The ice is called hail, and it can form even during the warmth of summer. High up in a storm cloud, it’s so cold that small pieces …

Feb 28, 2024 · There are two methods by which the hailstone grows, wet growth and dry growth, and which produce the "layered look" of hail. In wet growth, the hailstone nucleus (a tiny piece of ice) is in …