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Hail

Form of precipitation consisting of ice pellets.

hailstones

Hail is a form of precipitation consisting of ice pellets. It forms in strong thunderstorm updrafts where supercooled water droplets freeze onto ice crystals, growing larger as they accrete more water and are repeatedly lifted and frozen.

Pronunciation

/heɪl/

Etymology

Hail originates from the Old English 'hael,' meaning stone or pebble.

Explain Like I’m 5

Hail is frozen raindrops that fall from thunderstorms, sometimes as big as grapefruits!

Fun Facts

Hail can damage crops and cars
, Some hailstones contain layers of ice, showing they froze and melted multiple times
, Hailstorms are most common in warm climates with thunderstorms

FAQ

What is hail? Hail is precipitation consisting of balls or irregular lumps of ice
, How does hail form? It forms in strong thunderstorms with high updrafts and freezing temperatures
, What is the largest recorded hail? The largest recorded hail was 20 cm (8 inches) in diameter

Hypernyms — Broader Categories

precipitation weather phenomenon

Hyponyms — Specific Examples

graupel ice pellet

Meronyms — Parts or Components

ice crystals supercooled water droplets

Holonyms — Wholes or Groups

thunderstorm

Indexes

natural phenomenon weather event

Related

Built by Tim Jones