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Jacob from Make Science Fun explains how hail forms during a hail storm. He describes the process starting with ice balls forming in the cold atmosphere after a hot day. The process involves wind pushing these ice balls up into the clouds where they gather more water, freeze, and fall again. As this cycle continues, the hailstones grow larger until they are too heavy for the wind to hold up, eventually falling to the ground. This offers an engaging look at the fascinating cycle of hail formation.
When a day starts hot and ends with a sudden cold front in the atmosphere, things can get interesting — especially if you're witnessing a hailstorm! That's the situation Jacob from Make Science Fun found himself in, sparking an exciting exploration into how hail is formed.
Jacob breaks down the process with energy: those tiny ice balls start off small, but as they're pushed upwards by the warm updrafts, they collect more water. This water freezes, creating larger hailstones each time they cycle through the cold cloud layers.
Ultimately, this cycle of lift, freeze, and fall repeats until the ice balls become too heavy. The wind can no longer support them, and they rain down — creating a scenario that’s more fun than scary, especially when experienced from the safety of indoors!