How can it hail and not snow?

Question

Don't large balls of ice imply that it is colder?

Answer 1

To add to the answers you've already received, hail is produced by thunderstorms, usually above 25,000 feet where rain drops are circulated through the storm, rising to the top then back down near the base and so-on. Temperatures well above the surface are much, much cooler...cold enough to freeze water. The bigger the hail, the stronger the updraft is. Each time the hail is circulated, another layer is added. If you cut a hail-ball in half, you'd see rings - layers added each time the original rain drop circulated through the height of the storm. Once the thunderstorm's updraft can no longer lift the hail back up, it falls. Due to the rapid rate hail falls, there is very little time for warm surface temperatures to melt it.

In order for snow to fall, the temperature above must be similiar to the temperature at the surface so snow doesn't melt when landing. In reality, the temperature at the surface doesn't need to be AT freezing for it to snow. I'm sure you've seen snow when it has been forty degrees. As long as there's minimal temperature gradiant between the surface and aloft, snow will fall. Melting once it hits the warm surface is another story.

Just thought I'd add some more information!

Rocco

Answer 2

I don't anybody here has answered this question - which I also have, being how I found this thread. Why doesn't hail ever fall during the winter especially during snow storms? There must be a reason because I have seen plenty of hail and plenty of snow here in Kansas, but never together. We might get hail in the winter if it's a warm day and there is a southerly rainstorm. I have heard thunder snow and have seen snow lightning. Usually the boom is very muffled by the snow because it only happens during heavy snowfall. I get all that - static electricity in the atmosphere can happen during heavy snow just like in heavy rain or storm conditions in the atmosphere. It happens more easily in rainstorms - I guess because the snow also insulates the electricity somewhat.

Answer 3

Snow can occur only in those places where the temperature is below zero degree celcius.But hail is an ice particle at the place of origin(ie within clouds) and they come down before getting melted completely through the warm air below (on a surface where the temperature is above zero degree celcius).

Answer 4

No, hail forms when rain drops start to fall out of the clouds then wind pushed it back up it freezes, then it comes back down gains more water and determining on how windy the process keeps going till the wind can not bring it back up anymore.