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Any thunderstorm which produces hail that reaches the ground is known as a hailstorm. [7] An ice crystal with a diameter of >5 mm (0.20 in) is considered a hailstone. [4] Hailstones can grow to 15 cm (6 in) and weigh more than 0.5 kg (1.1 lb). [8] Unlike ice pellets, hailstones are often layered [9] and can be irregular and clumped together.
Due to their larger density, these hailstones become heavy enough to overcome the density of the cloud and fall towards the ground. The downdrafts in cumulonimbus clouds can also cause increases in the speed of the falling hailstones. The term hailstorm is usually used to describe the existence of significant quantities or size of hailstones.
Graupel (/ ˈ ɡ r aʊ p əl /; German: [ˈɡʁaʊpl̩] ⓘ), also called soft hail or hominy snow or granular snow or snow pellets, [1] is precipitation that forms when supercooled water droplets in air are collected and freeze on falling snowflakes, forming 2–5 mm (0.08–0.20 in) balls of crisp, opaque rime.
Before hailstones become too heavy to fall to the ground, the updraft pushes them up repeatedly, freezing more ice around them. ... The top six days with the most large hail reports since 2006 ...
Hail can wreak havoc. Ranging in size from peas to grapefruits, the ice chunks can wreak havoc where they fall, including on homes, vehicles, businesses, aircraft, crops and solar panels.
The updraft dissipates and the hailstones fall down, back into the updraft, and are lifted up again. Hail has a diameter of 5 millimetres (0.20 in) or more. [ 77 ] Within METAR code, GR is used to indicate larger hail, of a diameter of at least 6.4 millimetres (0.25 in) and GS for smaller. [ 78 ]
Smaller hail is projected to decrease because it’s more likely to melt in the warmer air as it nears the surface, he said, while larger hail, falling at a faster velocity, will be less affected.
Hail is one of the most significant thunderstorm hazards to aircraft. When hail stones exceed 13 millimetres (0.5 in) in diameter, planes can be seriously damaged within seconds. [68] The hailstones accumulating on the ground can also be hazardous to landing aircraft. Wheat, corn, soybeans, and tobacco are the most sensitive crops to hail ...