Wednesday 29 January 2014

Hailstones as Large as Baseballs

In July of 2010 a hailstone hit Vivian, South Dakota measuring 18.62 inches in circumference.

Here are ten famous hailstones in American history.

1.  In 2000, Lake Worth, Texas had a storm which produced softball sized hailstones.  One struck a man in the head and he passed away the following day from his injury.

2.  In May of 2000, a hailstorm caused $572  million in damages in Chicago, Illinois.

3.  The states which suffer the most hailstorms are:  Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming.

4.  Peak months for hail are:  March, April, May and June.

5.  Previous to the Vivian, South Dakota hailstone, in 1928, Potter, Nebraska boasted the biggest hailstone measuring 17 inches in circumference and weighing 1.5 pounds.

6.  On average 24 people per year are injured by hailstones in the United States.

7.  Large hail is most common in rotating thunderstorms called supercells.  Less than 30% of supercells also produce tornadoes.

8.  Hail one inch or larger, the size of a quarter, is considered severe.

9.  Hail originates from cumulonimbus clouds.

10.  The average hailstorm lasts only 6 minutes and most are not more than 15 minutes.



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