What you’re seeing
The sky is dark and stormy, indicating a strong thunderstorm system.
Ice balls (hailstones) are scattered on the ground, cars, and sidewalks.
Some hailstones are unusually large and oddly shaped, including:
Smooth round ones
Layered or “ridged” discs (like in the hand)
Chunky, irregular pieces
What is hail?
Hail forms when strong updrafts inside storm clouds (called cumulonimbus clouds) carry raindrops upward into very cold areas of the atmosphere. There, they freeze and grow as more layers of ice build up.
Repeated cycles up and down in the cloud → larger hailstones
Stronger storm → bigger hail
Size comparison (based on images)
The hail shown appears to range from:
Golf ball size (~4–5 cm)
Up to possibly tennis ball or larger (~6–8+ cm)
That qualifies as severe hail, capable of causing damage.
Potential damage
Hail of this size can:
Dent or crack cars (as seen on the hood)
Break windows
Damage roofs and siding
Destroy plants and trees (note the broken branches)
Injure people and animals if caught outside
Why some hail looks unusual
The ridged, flat, or spiky shapes form due to:
NEXT PAGE
To see the full cooking instructions, go to the next page or click the Open button (>) and don't forget to SHARE it with your friends on Facebook.
