Meteorologists often use common objects to help the public grasp the severity of thunderstorms and to describe the damage caused by severe weather events. It is essential to use standard items that are easily recognizable and do not change in size or shape for accurate comparisons.
When reporting hail size, it is common to refer to the smallest hail (0.25-inch diameter) as pea-sized, which typically does not cause significant damage. However, hail becomes more destructive as it grows larger, progressing from quarter-sized (1 inch) to golf ball-sized (1.75 inches), baseball-sized (2.75 inches), and even larger sizes like softball-sized (4 inches) or grapefruit-sized (4.5 inches).
Objects such as balloons, pebbles, or marbles, which can vary in size, are not suitable for accurate hail size comparisons.
In the event of hail at your location, providing the size and time of occurrence to the National Weather Service can help improve weather warnings for everyone. Severe thunderstorms capable of producing hail the size of quarters are a cause for concern, with the local weather service office specifically interested in hail that is at least one inch in diameter or larger, as this has the potential to cause damage and pose risks to individuals outdoors.
Different hail sizes can lead to varying degrees of damage, such as shingle damage from quarter-sized hail, vehicle dents from golf ball-sized hail, smashed windshields from baseball-sized hail, and roof holes from softball-sized hail. When hail is accompanied by strong winds, the damage can be exacerbated.
It is important not to venture outside during a hailstorm to collect hail for reports as severe hail can cause injuries. Wait until the storm has passed and it is safe to go outside, typically after 30 minutes of no thunder.
Severe thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes or strong gusts should also be reported to the local National Weather Service office. Reporting such events helps improve safety measures and warnings for the community.
Jonathan Belles, a graphics meteorologist and writer for weather.com, has been contributing his expertise for eight years. He is involved in creating videos for The Weather Channel en español and specializes in tropical weather, high-impact weather events, news stories, and winter storms. A graduate of Florida State University and St. Petersburg College, Jonathan is dedicated to keeping the public informed and safe during severe weather conditions.
