Why Does Hail Fall as Icy Balls?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hey there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why does hail fall as icy balls?

The Big Idea

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.

Updrafts Lift Drops

Step one: updrafts lift raindrops. Inside a thunderstorm, strong updrafts carry raindrops up where the air is far below freezing. The drops freeze into little ice pellets.

Layers Build Up

Step two: layers build up. The ice falls through wet air and picks up a coat of water, then another updraft lifts it again. Each trip adds a new icy layer, like the layers of an onion.

Too Heavy to Stay Up

Step three: the hailstone falls. When the ball of ice grows too heavy for the updraft to hold, it drops out of the cloud. Hailstones are often as small as peas, but the biggest ones can be as big as grapefruits.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look at hail! The updraft is the wind that lifts the ice up. Each icy layer is a coat of frozen water. And the hailstone is the finished ball that falls.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Cut a hailstone open and you can see its layers, a bit like an onion. Hailstones come in many sizes, from peas to golf balls and even bigger. Large hail can dent cars and break windows. Never go out to chase hailstones. Watch from indoors, and collect them only after the storm is over.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Stay inside during a hailstorm. Watch from a safe window. After the storm is over, ask a grown-up if it is safe to look at a hailstone. Notice the icy layers, and never go out in an open field.

Outro

Hail is a storm's ice story, told in layers. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!