Book 7, Question 19
Why Does Hail Fall as Icy Balls?
Hail is a ball of ice that forms inside a thunderstorm. Strong winds that blow upward, called updrafts, toss raindrops high into freezing air. That is why hail falls as icy balls, not as rain.
From the book
Page from A Million Whys Book 7
More fun facts
- Most hailstones are about 1 centimeter across, but some have been as big as 10 to 15 centimeters.
- A hailstone 15 centimeters wide can fall at about 170 to 180 miles per hour.
- Hailstones grow by collecting super-chilled cloud droplets that freeze onto them.
- When water freezes onto a hailstone, it gives off heat, which can make the stone warmer than the cloud around it.
- A hailstone can grow in layers as it moves through parts of the cloud with different temperatures.
- Some hail grows with a slushy mix of water and ice called spongy hail.
Questions kids ask
How big can hail get?
Most hailstones are about 1 centimeter across, but some reach 10 to 15 centimeters.
How fast does big hail fall?
A hailstone 15 centimeters wide can fall at about 170 to 180 miles per hour.