HAIL DAMAGE AND SAFETY TIPS

Hail is one of the most common and costly weather hazards in the United States, causing hundreds of millions of dollars in damage to buildings, vehicles, and crops every year. Help guard against the damaging effect of a hailstorm by following the steps below.

Make A Plan

A hailstorm can disrupt electrical service and is often accompanied by other severe weather events, such as hurricanes and tornadoes. Prepare your family for the hazards and inconveniences of a hailstorm by creating a disaster preparedness plan, including a disaster survival kit and an emergency evacuation plan.

Stay Informed

Hail often occurs during severe weather patterns, such as strong thunderstorms. When severe weather threatens, tune in to a battery-powered radio for updates. A severe thunderstorm watch means that conditions are right for thunderstorms to become severe. A severe thunderstorm warning means that a storm poses an immediate threat to the people and property in its path. This warning may be accompanied by a siren or other community alert system.

How does hail form? Inside of a thunderstorm are strong updrafts of warm air and downdrafts of cold air. If a water droplet is picked up by the updrafts…it can be carried well above the freezing level. With temperatures below 32F…our water droplet freezes. As the frozen droplet begins to fall…carried by cold downdrafts…it may thaw as it moves into warmer air toward the bottom of the thunderstorm But…our little half-frozen droplet may also get picked up again by another updraft…carrying it back into very cold air and re-freezing it. With each trip above and below the freezing level our frozen droplet adds another layer of ice. Finally…our frozen water droplet…with many layers of ice – much like the rings in a tree…falls to the ground – as hail!

What to do if you are caught in a hail storm while in an automobile:

• Most importantly, stop driving. If you see a safe place close-by (like inside a garage, under a highway overpass or under a service station awning), drive to it as soon as you can. Make sure you pull completely off the highway.
• Do NOT leave the vehicle until it stops hailing. Your car might get dented, but unlike you, the car won’t get a concussion.
• Stay away from car windows. Cover your eyes with something, like a piece of clothing. If possible, get onto the floor faced down or lay down on the seat with your back to the windows.
• Put very small children under you and cover their eyes.

What to do if you are caught in a hail storm while in a building:

• Stay inside until the hail stops.
• Stay away from windows, especially those being struck by hail.
• Account for all family members, building occupants, pets, etc.
• Do not go outside for any reason. Large hail can cause serious or even fatal injuries.
• To avoid the danger of electrocution from lightning, avoid using phones and electrical appliances during a severe storm

What to do if you are caught in a hail storm while outdoors:

• Seek shelter immediately. If you can’t find something to protect your entire body, find something to protect your head.
• Stay out of culverts and lowland areas that may suddenly fill with water.
• Seeking shelter under trees should be a last resort. It is common during severe storms for trees to lose branches. Also, large isolated trees attract lightning.

Facts about Hail

• The hail season varies around the United States. Generally, it runs March through October, with the majority of hail storms occurring May through August.
• Hail is primarily an afternoon or evening phenomenon. Most severe hailstorms occur between 1:00 P.M. and 9:00 P.M.
• Hailstorms rarely last more than 15 minutes. The median duration is 6 minutes.
• The most common size for damaging hail is 1 to 1 1/2 inches in diameter. The most common size for hail in New Mexico is 1/4 inches.

Is there a way to estimate hail size…or do I have to go outside and measure it? It’s often difficult to get an accurate measurement of hail diameter – especially when it’s falling The table to the right helps observers estimate the size of hail based on average diameters of common items When in doubt – play it safe and wait until the thunderstorm has moved away before going outside to measure the size of hail

Estimating Hail Size Pea = 1/4 inch diameter Marble/mothball = 1/2 inch diameter Dime/Penny = 3/4 inch diameter – hail penny size or larger is considered severe Nickel = 7/8 inch Quarter = 1 inch Ping-Pong Ball = 1 1/2 inch Golf Ball = 1 3/4 inches Tennis Ball = 2 1/2 inches Baseball = 2 3/4 inches Tea cup = 3 inches Grapefruit = 4 inches Softball = 4 1/2 inches

Hail indicators and Tornados. The presence of large hail certainly indicates a very strong, rotating updraft coincident with a strong downdraft within a super cell thunderstorm. These are classic indicators of increased tornadic potential as very large/giant hail is often observed immediately north of a tornado track. However, the presence of large hail doesn’t always mean a tornado. Conversely, the absence of large hail doesn’t always mean there isn’t a risk of tornadoes.:

Dime size hail 5-10 % chance of a tornado forming in this storm

Quarter size hail 20-25% chance of a tornado forming in this storm

Golf ball size hail 40-50% chance of a tornado forming in this storm (RED FLAG You should start watching for any rotation with these storms)

Baseball or larger size hail 80-90% chance of a tornado forming in this storm (EXTREME CAUTION tornados are VERY PROBABLE with these storms)

Move Inside, Stay Inside

Hailstones vary greatly in size, but even small ones – driven by gravity and strong winds – pose a danger to anything or anyone caught in a storm. As a storm approaches, put vehicles in the garage and bring pets inside. If you are outdoors, go indoors immediately.

Once you’re indoors, close all drapes, blinds, or shades to prevent broken window glass and hailstones from entering your home. If possible, move to a basement, cellar, or other level of the building not directly below the roof. Stay indoors until the storm has passed.

If you’re on the road during a hailstorm, stay in your vehicle and slow down or stop, as roads may become slippery. Once you have pulled over safely, turn your back to windows or cover yourself with a blanket to protect yourself from broken glass.

Hail Storms Safety Tips:

• Tune in to your radio to stay informed of approaching storms.
• If you see a tornado or hear a tornado warning, don’t try to outrun it.
• Turn on your headlights (low beams) and slow down. Many states require the use of headlights during rain.
• Allow extra distance for braking.
• Do not drive unless necessary.
• Pull safely onto the shoulder of the road away from any trees that could fall on the vehicle.
• If at all possible, pull into a sturdy garage, parking garage, or under a shelter to minimize hail damage.
• Stay in the car and turn on the emergency flashers until the heavy rains subside.
• Avoid downed power lines.
• Approach intersections with caution
• Treat traffic lights at intersections as stop signs
• After the storm, thoroughly evaluate your vehicle for damage.
• If you find glass damage, carefully remove any glass from the interior of your vehicle, and cover the damaged area to prevent further water damage to your interior.

Treat Hail storms in much the same way you would handle a thunderstorm or tornado. Safety First, Safety Always!

Information from NOAA, Weather.Com, NWS Kerry Jones and KVII Channel 7 Amarillo Steve Kersh

Today’s blog post comes to us courtesy of

Ken Oswald, Safety and Security Manager for Plateau