hail

Table of Contents

Introduction References & Edit History Related Topics

Images & Videos

Witness crop destruction by hail and examine a hailstone's interior under polarized light

thunderstorm: hail production

Explore how interactions between the water cycle and landforms affect climate and weather

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The Perils of an Early Spring

Earth from space. Full-hemisphere views of the Earth showing Hurricane Linda at its peak approaching Baja California on 1997 September 11.

What Is Earth’s Velocity?

Lightning over the outskirts of Oradea, Rom., during the thunderstorm of August 17, 2005.

16 Questions About Earth’s Atmsophere and Weather Answered

Solar system illustration. (planets; sun)

Why Are Planets Round?

Lightning over a farm field. Weather electricity thunderstorm light energy tree

Can Lightning Strike the Same Place Twice?

Discover

Saint Lucia Day. Young girl wears Lucia crown (tinsel halo) with candles. Holds Saint Lucia Day currant laced saffron buns (lussekatter or Lucia's cats). Observed December 13 honor virgin martyr Santa Lucia (St. Lucy). Luciadagen, Christmas, Sweden

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Close-up of ostriches (Struthio camelus) necks and heads; location unknown.

6 of the World's Most Dangerous Birds

King Cobra snake in Malaysia. (reptile)

9 of the World’s Deadliest Snakes

Ahura Mazda - relief of the Zoroastrian god Ahura Mazda at the ancient ruins of Persepolis in Iran. Also known as Ormazd Zoroastrianism,

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New York city skyline aerial with the Empire State Building, New York City, New York.

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The Prado Museum facade at the Diego Velaszquez memorial. Established in 1819, the museum is considered the best collection of Spanish art and one of the world's finest collections of European art. Madrid, Spain

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hail: References & Edit History

More Articles On This Topic

Assorted References

acidification
- In acid rain: Chemistry of acid deposition
control by weather modification
- In weather modification: Hail suppression
precipitation
- In climate: Hail
- In atmosphere: Precipitation of ice
supercell storms
- In thunderstorm: Supercell storms

Article Contributors

Primary Contributors

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Other Encyclopedia Britannica Contributors

Article History

Type	Description	Contributor	Date
	Add new Web site: National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - Severe Hail Fall and Hailstorm Detection Using Remote Sensing Observations.	Aakanksha Gaur	Oct 12, 2024
	Add new Web site: Geosciences LibreTexts - Precipitation and Hail.	Aakanksha Gaur	Jan 12, 2024
	Add new Web site: Pennsylvania State University - Department of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science - Hail.	Aakanksha Gaur	Dec 01, 2023
	Add new Web site: NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory - Severe Weather 101: Hail Basics.	Gloria Lotha	Feb 17, 2023
	Add new Web site: National Geographic - Hail.	Gloria Lotha	Aug 19, 2019
	Upper limit of hailstone size increased to more than 15 cm (about 6 inches).	John P. Rafferty	Mar 08, 2012
	Added diagram of a hail-producing thunderstorm in cross section.	Richard Pallardy	Jan 31, 2012
	Media added.	Amy Tikkanen	Jan 03, 2008
	Added new Web site: The National Center for Atmospheric Reasearch - Hail Fact Sheet.	Gloria Lotha	Jun 12, 2007
	Added new Web site: University of Nebraska: Lincoln - What is Hail?	Gloria Lotha	Jun 12, 2007
	Article revised.	The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica	Apr 07, 1999
	Article added to new online database.	The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica	Jul 20, 1998