Hailstorms
What Is A Hailstorm?
Damage Risks Of Hailstorms
What Is A Hailstorm?
Hail is precipitation in the form of lumps of ice that form in some
storms. They are usually round, and vary from pea size all the way
to grapefruit size. Hailstones generally form in thunderstorms between
currents of rising air called the “updraft”, and the current
of air descending toward the ground, called the “downdraft.”
Large hailstones indicate strong updrafts in storms. The larger the
hail, the stronger the updraft needed to hold it aloft in the storm.
In storms that cause tornadoes, hail often falls directly to the
northeast or east of the path of the tornado. The strong updraft is
associated with the part of the storm that produces the tornado.
Damage Risks Of Hailstorms
Hail storms cause an incredible amount of damage to property and
crops across the United States every year. In just two years, 1993
and 1994, hail caused over $500 million in damages. Then, in May 1995,
the costliest severe thunderstorm in American history struck the Dallas/Fort
Worth Metroplex. Incredibly, it caused between $1 billion and $2 billion
of damage, much of it due to hail and flooding.
Fortunately, hail very rarely kills anyone. However, hailstones injure
a couple of dozen people each year. Of course, the best way to keep
safe in hailstorms is to immediately seek shelter, avoiding open areas
whenever possible.
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