Editing Hail (section)

==Definition==
Any thunderstorm which produces hail that reaches the ground is known as a '''hailstorm'''.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://amsglossary.allenpress.com/glossary/search?p=1&query=Hailstorm |title=Hailstorm |work=Glossary of Meteorology |year=2009 |access-date=2009-08-29 |publisher= [[American Meteorological Society]]  |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110606103908/http://amsglossary.allenpress.com/glossary/search?p=1&query=Hailstorm |archive-date=2011-06-06}}</ref> An ice crystal with a diameter of >{{cvt|5|mm|in}} is considered a '''hailstone'''.<ref name="gloss">{{cite web|url=http://amsglossary.allenpress.com/glossary/search?id=hail1 |title= Hail| year= 2009 |access-date=2009-07-15| work= Glossary of Meteorology|publisher= American Meteorological Society|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100725142407/http://amsglossary.allenpress.com/glossary/search?id=hail1|archive-date=2010-07-25}}</ref> Hailstones can grow to {{cvt|15|cm|in|0}} and weigh more than {{cvt|0.5|kg|lb|1}}.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/htmls/nssl0001.htm|title=Aggregate hailstone| publisher= National Severe Storms Laboratory, [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |date=2007-04-23|access-date=2009-07-15|url-status=live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090810182627/http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/htmls/nssl0001.htm|archive-date=2009-08-10}}</ref>

Unlike ice pellets, hailstones are often layered<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hail Basics |url=https://www.nssl.noaa.gov/education/svrwx101/hail/ |access-date=2024-04-14 |website=NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory |language=EN-US |quote=Hailstones can have layers of clear and cloudy ice if the hailstone encounters different temperature and liquid water content conditions in the thunderstorm. The conditions experienced by the hailstone can change as it passes horizontally across or near an updraft. |archive-date=2023-10-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231011204536/https://www.nssl.noaa.gov/education/svrwx101/hail/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and can be irregular and clumped together.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}} Hail is composed of transparent ice or alternating layers of transparent and translucent ice at least {{cvt|1|mm|in}} thick, which are deposited upon the hailstone as it travels through the cloud, suspended aloft by air with strong upward motion until its weight overcomes the [[vertical draft|updraft]] and falls to the ground. Although the diameter of hail is varied, in the United States, the average observation of damaging hail is between {{cvt|1|in|cm|order=flip}} and [[golf ball|golf-ball]]-sized {{cvt|1.75|in|cm|order=flip}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spc.noaa.gov/publications/jewell/hailslsc.pdf|title=P9.5 Evaluation of an Alberta Hail Growth Model Using Severe Hail Proximity Soundings in the United States| first1= Ryan |last1= Jewell| first2= Julian |last2= Brimelow |website= spc.noaa.gov |date=2004-08-17 |access-date= 2009-07-15 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090507044027/http://www.spc.noaa.gov/publications/jewell/hailslsc.pdf |archive-date=2009-05-07}}</ref>

Stones larger than {{convert|2|cm|in|abbr=on}} are usually considered large enough to cause damage. The [[Meteorological Service of Canada]] issues severe thunderstorm warnings when hail that size or above is expected.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ec.gc.ca/meteo-weather/default.asp?lang=En&n=D9553AB5-1#severethunderstorm |title=Severe Thunderstorm criteria |website= ec.gc.ca |publisher= Meteorological Service of Canada, [[Environment Canada]] |date= November 3, 2010 |access-date= 2011-05-12 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120805192340/http://www.ec.gc.ca/meteo-weather/default.asp?lang=En&n=D9553AB5-1#severethunderstorm |archive-date=August 5, 2012}}</ref> The US [[National Weather Service]] has a {{cvt|1|in|cm}} diameter threshold, effective January 2010, an increase over the previous threshold of {{cvt|0.75|in|cm}} hail.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.srh.noaa.gov/bmx/?n=oneinchhail |website= noaa.gov |title= NEW 1 Inch Hail Criteria| publisher= National Weather Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |place= US |date= January 4, 2010 |access-date=2011-05-12 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110907093725/http://www.srh.noaa.gov/bmx/?n=oneinchhail |archive-date=September 7, 2011}}</ref> Other countries have different thresholds according to local sensitivity to hail; for instance, grape-growing areas could be adversely impacted by smaller hailstones. Hailstones can be very large or very small, depending on how strong the updraft is: weaker hailstorms produce smaller hailstones than stronger hailstorms (such as [[supercell]]s), as the more powerful updrafts in a stronger storm can keep larger hailstones aloft.