How big are hailstones? That definitely can depend on where you live and how strong an updraft the storm has that produces them!
The best way to find out how large the hail might be that fell in your yard is to take an actual measurement.
Depending on what the diameter is in inches will determine the size.
The chart below, as provided by the Storm Prediction Center, shows how hail is typically measured.
HAIL SIZE (in.) |
OBJECT ANALOG REPORTED |
.50 |
Marble, moth ball |
.75 |
Penny |
.88 |
Nickel |
1.00 |
Quarter |
1.25 |
Half dollar |
1.50 |
Walnut, ping pong |
1.75 |
Golf ball |
2.00 |
Hen egg |
2.50 |
Tennis ball |
2.75 |
Baseball |
3.00 |
Tea cup |
4.00 |
Softball |
4.50 |
Grapefruit |
The biggest hailstone ever measured was a whopper, and fell in South Dakota in 2010!
The largest hailstone ever recorded in the U.S. was in Vivian, South Dakota. 7.9 inches in diameter!!!#IASWAW #iawx #SevereWXPrep #MidwestReady pic.twitter.com/uO0AxmGSRw
— NWS Des Moines (@NWSDesMoines) March 26, 2018
If you have any videos or photos of hail, make sure to share them with us on our Facebook or Twitter pages!
For WeatherNation, I’m Meteorologist Meredith Garofalo