Weather & Radar
Home / Weather News /

The dangers of hail

02:36 PM
April 17, 2025

What to know
The dangers of hail

Hail can do more than dent your vehicle. Large, wind-driven hail can damage homes and businesses, total vehicles and be deadly. Here's what to know about hail and how the Weather & Radar app can help you stay safe.

Hail forms within thunderstorms when water droplets are carried upward by strong updrafts into colder regions of the atmosphere, where they freeze into ice. Hail size can vary, ranging from small pea-sized pellets to large golf ball-sized or even larger. The larger the hail, the more dangerous it is.

The largest hailstone in the United States fell in Vivian, South Dakota, on June 23, 2010. It had a diameter of 8 inches, a circumference of 18.62 inches and weighed 1 lb 15 oz.

Hail is generally considered damaging when it reaches 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter. When large hail is in the forecast, it's time to take note. First, our advanced alert system will give you a heads up when hail is possible.

You can also spot hail on our WeatherRadar and RainRadar. Hail shows up as pink and purple on these products.

Mary Mays
More on the topic
Saturday, April 26, 2025

Off the coast of Sardinia

Waterspout seen from cruise ship
Sunday, March 30, 2025

Your weather - Your shots

Spring tranquillity across the pond
Happy Earth Day
Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Employ renewable energy

Earth Day 2025 - Our Power, Our Planet
All weather news
This might also interest you
Sunday, May 11, 2025

Happy Mother's Day

Check the forecast first
Saturday, May 10, 2025

Atlanta rattled

Earthquake shakes the Southeast
Tuesday, May 13, 2025

Breakfast Brief

Record heat in Texas
All articles
Weather & Radar

www.weatherandradar.com

instagramfacebookthreadsContact uslinkList
Privacy policy | Legal info