hail

Table of Contents

Introduction References & Edit History Related Topics

Images & Videos

Witness crop destruction by hail and examine a hailstone's interior under polarized light

thunderstorm: hail production

Explore how interactions between the water cycle and landforms affect climate and weather

Read Next

Flower. Fruit tree. Cherry. Cherry tree. Cherry blossom. Spring. Close-up of cherry blossoms in bloom.

The Perils of an Early Spring

Earth from space. Full-hemisphere views of the Earth showing Hurricane Linda at its peak approaching Baja California on 1997 September 11.

What Is Earth’s Velocity?

Lightning over the outskirts of Oradea, Rom., during the thunderstorm of August 17, 2005.

16 Questions About Earth’s Atmsophere and Weather Answered

Solar system illustration. (planets; sun)

Why Are Planets Round?

Lightning over a farm field. Weather electricity thunderstorm light energy tree

Can Lightning Strike the Same Place Twice?

Discover

Amendments 1-10 to the Constitution of the United States constitute what is known as the Bill of Rights on an American flag.

What Is the Emoluments Clause?

Ethel Rosenberg arrested in August 1950. Photograph dated Aug. 8, 1950. American civilians executed for espionage. Spies, communists, Julius Rosenberg

Spies Like Us: 10 Famous Names in the Espionage Game

Aurochs. Bos primigenius. Skeleton. Extinct animal. Skeleton of an Aurochs, an extinct wild ox.

6 Animals We Ate Into Extinction

King Cobra snake in Malaysia. (reptile)

9 of the World’s Deadliest Snakes

Happy, smiling, flying pig

7 Everyday English Idioms and Where They Come From

Dancers at a Cinco de Mayo festival at the Mission District, San Francisco, California. (Photo dated 2019.) holidays

Is Cinco de Mayo Mexico's Independence Day?

Periodical Cicada, Adult, Magicicada spp. Requires 17 years to complete development. Nymph splits its skin, and transforms into an adult. Feeds on sap of tree roots. Northern Illinois Brood. This brood is the largest emergence of cicadas anywhere

Why Do Some Cicadas Appear Only Every 17 Years?

hail: Related Content

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

News •

Tornadoes, Hail, Flooding Hit Central US • May 20, 2025, 7:03 AM ET (The Weather Channel)

Watch: Marble-size hailstones and thunderstorms hit Paris • May 7, 2025, 3:04 AM ET (BBC)

Tornado Warnings in Nebraska and Hail Threats in Texas As Storms Move Through • Apr. 24, 2025, 10:57 AM ET (New York Times)

Photos and Videos

thunderstorm: hail production

Witness crop destruction by hail and examine a hailstone's interior under polarized light

Explore how interactions between the water cycle and landforms affect climate and weather

See All Videos and Images →

Topics

hailstone small hail soft hail precipitation hydrometeor rain snow orographic precipitation sleet fog drip fog cloud aerosol rime Does It Rain on Other Planets?

Quiz

Lightning over a farm field. Weather electricity thunderstorm light energy tree

Facts You Should Know: Weather Quiz

rain. Child in the rain, wearing a rain coat, under a yellow umbrella. April Showers weather climate rain storm water drops

April Showers to March’s Lions and Lambs

Iceland, Glacier lagoon (Jokulsarlon)

Winter Weather Words Quiz

Umbrella colored like a rainbow sticking out above a sea of black umbrellas while it rains. (storm, weather)

Weather Words Vocabulary Quiz