Hail: A Form of Solid Precipitation
Definition and Formation
Hail is a form of solid precipitation that forms inside thunderstorm updrafts. It consists of small ice balls or pieces ranging in size from 5 mm (about 0.2 inches) to over 15 cm (about 6 inches) in diameter.
Formation Process
Hail forms when raindrops are lifted into the upper part of the thunderstorm cloud, where temperatures are below freezing. The droplets freeze and become small hailstones. These hailstones then collide with other ice particles and droplets, growing in size as they continue to freeze and accumulate more ice.
Influencing Factors
The size and severity of hail depends on several factors, including the strength of the thunderstorm updraft, the available moisture, and the temperature structure of the atmosphere.
Size Variation
Hail can vary significantly in size, ranging from small, pea-sized hailstones to large, golf ball-sized or even larger ones. The largest hailstone ever recorded in the United States measured 8 inches in diameter and weighed 1.9 pounds.
Distinction from Other Precipitation
Hail differs from ice pellets (sleet) in that hail is made of solid ice and is not a mixture of snow and rain. Sleet forms when precipitation falls as snow but melts on its way down and then refreezes as it encounters a cold air mass near the ground.
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