Giant hail recorded Tuesday evening in the town of… See more

There’s a strong clash of warm, moist air near the surface with colder air aloft

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The atmosphere is highly unstable

Wind shear (changes in wind speed or direction with height) is significant

A storm cell becomes well‑organized and long‑lasting

These are the kinds of atmospheric scenarios that meteorologists track closely during severe weather outlooks.

Impacts of Giant Hail: Beyond the Wow Factor

A hailstorm large enough to produce giant hailstones isn’t just a spectacle — it can have tangible consequences for people and infrastructure.

Property and Vehicle Damage

Large hailstones can:

Dent vehicles

Break windshields

Shred siding or roof shingles

Crack windows in homes and businesses

When stones reach tennis ball size or larger, the force of impact is significant enough to penetrate standard construction materials.

Injury Risk

Hail of significant size can injure people or animals caught outdoors during a storm. Even smaller hail — pea or marble size — can hurt if it’s blown by strong winds. Large hail increases that risk dramatically.

Agricultural Losses

Crops such as corn, soybeans, fruits, and vegetables are highly vulnerable. A hailstorm during growing season can strip leaves, bruise produce, and reduce yields — sometimes catastrophically for farmers.

Disruption to Daily Life

Severe hailstorms often come with:

Thunder and lightning

High winds

Heavy rain leading to localized flooding

Even if hail doesn’t directly damage property, the combination of severe weather can disrupt travel, power, and normal routines.

Is Giant Hail Becoming More Common?

Climatological data shows that severe hail events occur more frequently in some regions than others. In the United States, for instance, the area known as “Hail Alley” spanning parts of the High Plains experiences many of the largest hail events each year.

According to severe weather research, 2023 saw some of the highest numbers of large hail reports on record, including many with hailstones over 5 centimeters in diameter.
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