Hail Formation

Wonder how this huge hail forms? During a thunderstorm, a strong rising current of air called an “updraft” pushes water droplets and ice pellets high into the thunderstorm keeping them suspended within the storm. Temperature in this area can be below freezing. Once an ice pellet comes into contact with water droplets, the water begins to freeze creating layers of ice until a hailstone is formed.

The hailstone may fall out of the updraft but can get pulled back in and carried up again. This may happen several times, making the hailstone grow larger each time. The longer a strong updraft is present, the bigger the hailstone may become. Eventually, the weight of the hailstone becomes bigger than the force of the wind allowing the hailstone to fall to earth.