Natural Phenomena; Hail
Hail is a form of solid precipitation . It is distinct from ice pellets , though the two are often confused. It consists of balls or irregular lumps of ice, each of which is called a hailstone . Ice pellets fall generally in cold weather while hail growth is greatly inhibited during cold surface temperatures. Unlike other forms of water ice such as graupel , which is made of rime , and ice pellets , which are smaller and translucent , hailstones usually measure between 5 mm (0.2 in) and 15 cm (6 in) in diameter. Hail can cause serious damage, notably to automobiles , aircraft, skylights, glass-roofed structures, livestock , and most commonly, crops . Hail damage to roofs often goes unnoticed until further structural damage is seen, such as leaks or cracks.