In June 2024, a significant hailstorm in Texas saw grapefruit-sized hail rocks, and even larger stones have been reported in other states. This essay explains that hail forms from small ice crystals lifted into powerful thunderstorm updrafts, where they accumulate supercooled water that freezes around them, growing larger as they cycle through the storm. The article discusses the conditions favoring larger hail, particularly supercells, and reflects on whether hailstorms are escalating in frequency and intensity, raising concerns over safety and property damage during extreme weather events.
Hail begins as tiny crystals of ice that are swept into a thunderstorm's updraft, where they grow by colliding with supercooled water before falling.
Rotating, long-lived severe thunderstorms, known as supercells, are responsible for the largest hailstones, allowing them to collect moisture and grow larger.
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