Why do some thunderstorms produce hail while others do not?
Quick Answer
Hail needs strong updrafts that keep ice pellets circulating inside a cloud long enough to grow. If the updraft is weak or the freezing level is too low, hailstones usually stay small or melt before reaching the ground.
The Full Story
Hail forms inside powerful cumulonimbus clouds when supercooled water freezes onto ice embryos. Strong updrafts carry the stones upward repeatedly, adding layers of ice until they become heavy enough to fall. Whether hail reaches the ground depends on the storm’s vertical wind speed, the thickness of the warm layer below the cloud, and the size of the hailstones. Large hail is most common in severe thunderstorms, especially where warm moist air meets cooler air aloft.
Key Facts
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Suggested video title for this topic:
"How does a thunderstorm turn raindrops into ice bombs?"
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