Hailstones
Hailstones are solid precipitation that can occur during thunderstorms. They form when updrafts in thunderclouds carry raindrops upward into extremely cold areas of the atmosphere, where they freeze into ice. As the hailstones continue to be carried upward by the updrafts, they accumulate more layers of ice, getting larger and heavier. Eventually, the hailstones become too heavy for the updrafts to hold them, and they fall to the ground. Hailstones can vary in size, from as small as a pea to as large as a grapefruit. The larger the hailstone, the more damage it can cause. Hailstones can damage roofs, windows, and crops, and can even injure people and animals. Hailstones are more common in areas with frequent thunderstorms and strong updrafts, such as in the central and southern regions of the United States. Hailstorms can be dangerous, so it's important to...