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Hail is a form of precipitation that consists of balls or irregular lumps of ice. It forms on condensation nuclei such as dust, insects or ice crystals when super-cooled water freezes on contact.

Once a hailstone is too heavy to be supported by the storm's updraft, it falls out of the cloud. These hailstones can range from pea-sized to softball-sized clusters of ice, with large stones falling at speeds faster than 100 mph.

Before the Hail Storm

• Learn to recognize the weather conditions that cause hail storms.
• Listen to your NOAA Weather Radio, local news and radio stations for hail storm watches or warnings.
• If weather conditions are prime for hail storms, consider pulling property under covered areas.
• As hail is usually paired with severe thunderstorms and/or tornadoes, follow the safety procedures specified for the most severe threat.

When Hail is Likely

If a severe thunderstorm has been predicted to produce hail, you should:

• Seek shelter immediately. Any size hail can be dangerous in high winds.
• Listen to your NOAA Weather Radio, local news and radio stations for updates on weather conditions and emergency instructions.