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.