Introduction:

Hail is a weather phenomenon that is associated with summer season. Hail is type of precipitation that is violent in nature. It is in fact a downpour of ice balls. These pieces of ice are called the hailstones. Hail or hailstorms can be very dangerous at times.

• Formation of Hail:

The origin of hail is hidden in the clouds. A type of thundercloud known as cumulonimbi is the primary source of this weather phenomenon . These types of clouds carry a lot of cold water (super cool) that soon become ice particles and become heavier. These little ice particles merge with each other and form the bigger ice balls. The shapes of the hailstones that fall during the hail vary from 5 millimeter to 50 millimeter in its diameter. Sometimes the hailstones are even bigger in size. The shapes are irregular in shape and size. Generally the hailstones look like the golf balls. Sometimes when the hailstones become very large in size the latent heat that comes out due to the freezing, melt the outer portion of the ice. That is why, the outer layers of the hailstones are always wet and watery.

• Horrors of Hail:

Sometimes hail or hailstorm can become very dangerous for the humankind. It can even kill people. If the hailstones are very large in size these can harm the landmass to a great extent. Agriculture also gets affected by this severe kind of hails. However, not all types of hail are that much violent. Mild hailstorms are also perceived in various places.