Hail formation

Hail & Severe Weather How Large Would a 75-Pound Hailstone Be? See how mass, ice density, and shape yield an estimated diameter—and why radar cannot confirm a hailstone or property damage. Mar 4, 2026 2 min read Hail & Severe Weather What Is Melon-Size Hail, and How Rare Is It? Learn why “melon-size” is informal, how hail diameter is verified, and why radar or damage cannot confirm a stone’s size. Mar 2, 2026 2 min read Hail & Severe Weather How Fast Does 5-Inch Hail Fall? See why five-inch hail can approach or exceed 100 mph, and how shape, melting, air resistance, and wind change its speed. Mar 1, 2026 2 min read Hail & Severe Weather How Fast Does 3-Inch Hail Fall? Learn how drag, shape, orientation, melting, and wind turn a 3-inch hailstone’s fall speed into a range rather than one number. Feb 26, 2026 2 min read Hail & Severe Weather How Fast Does 2-Inch Hail Fall? See how hail size, shape, melting, air resistance, and wind change the fall speed of a two-inch stone. Feb 21, 2026 2 min read Hail & Severe Weather How Common Is 4-Inch Hail? See how historical reports, storm type, season, and observation limits explain the rarity of four-inch hail. Feb 15, 2026 2 min read Hail & Severe Weather How Big Is 2.5-Inch Hail? See how 2.5-inch hail compares with familiar objects, how it is measured, and what radar and damage reports can—and cannot—confirm. Feb 5, 2026 3 min read Hail & Severe Weather Can Hailstorms Be Created Artificially? Learn why cloud seeding can influence existing clouds but cannot manufacture a hailstorm, and how evidence should be interpreted. Jan 22, 2026 2 min read Hail & Severe Weather How Far Back Does NOAA Weather Data Go? See how NOAA's station, diary, and radar archives differ in start date, coverage, variables, and practical usefulness. Jun 26, 2025 2 min read