Hailstorm is a kind of thunderstorm mostly observed in the afternoon hours of summer. Ice crystals, dust particles and chilled water get distilled to form hail. Strong wind blowing during hailstorm carries with hailstones of varying size. Hailstone can be as small as a pea. Bigger hailstone looks like a golf ball.

Creation of Hailstorm

Sudden updrafts and down drafts are the two key factors causing hailstorms. When a strong air current passes through cumulonimbus clouds containing super cooled droplets of water, hailstorm breaks out. As the air current grows in strength water droplets turn into ice crystals. However for this to happen the air temperature must fall below zero degree centigrade. Tiny dust particles floating in air catalyzes the transformation of water into ice. If water deposit continues for a longer period of time, small ice crystals develop into hailstorm. When the icy deposit becomes 5 mm in diameter, it is termed as hailstone.

Features of Hailstorm

• Hailstorm wind moves with a speed of 70 miles per hour.

• The air current associated with hailstorm is highly powerful.

• Hailstorm is frequently observed midlatitudes. It happens mostly near mountain range as the slopes in mountains push the horizontal air currents in the upward direction. .

• Biggest hailstone recorded so far was found in Kansas \ in the year 1928. It was like a huge ball with a weight of 758 grams.

• Hailstorms that carry heavy hailstones with it cause severe damage to living beings and property. Giant-sized hailstones falling with high speed can even cause death.