© Eric Van Lochem

Burns, Wyoming, United States of America

Latitude: 41° 11' 34'' N

Longitude: 104° 21' 33'' W

07 June 2012 2030 (Local Time)

Image P/S code: P.11.2.9.1

Image I.D.: 5553

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  Large hail

  This picture shows a tennis ball-sized hailstone that fell from a tornadic supercell in south-eastern Wyoming, USA. The diameter of the stone is over 6 cm. Its size can be compared against an American quarter, which has a diameter of 2.43 cm.

  Hailstones can occur in a variety of sizes, even within a single fall. This was one of the larger stones in this fall; the median diameter of all of the hailstones was closer to golf ball-size.

  The internal structure of this hailstone suggests that it formed as a result of smaller stones sticking together within the cloud before falling to the ground.

  Links in the image description will highlight features on the image. Mouse over the features for more detail.

  © Eric Van Lochem
  Burns, Wyoming, United States of America
  Latitude: 41° 11' 34'' N
  Longitude: 104° 21' 33'' W
  07 June 2012 2030 (Local Time)
  
  
  Image P/S code: P.11.2.9.1
  Image I.D.: 5553
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  Large hailstones

  Hailstones can occur in a variety of sizes and forms, even within a single fall. These large hailstones fell from a thunderstorm over Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, USA. Their size can be compared against an American quarter, which has a diameter of 24.3 mm. The largest hailstones in this group (seen at 2, 3 and 4) are around 40 to 50 mm across.

  These hailstones are somewhat irregular in shape, probably as a result of the agglomeration of smaller hailstones within the cloud. Note the knobbly or lumpy appearance on some of the stones, seen at 5 and 6.

  Links in the image description will highlight features on the image. Mouse over the features for more detail.

  © William Kraemer
  Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, United States of America
  Latitude: 37° 58' 43'' N
  Longitude: 90° 2' 51'' W
  08 May 2009 1040 (Local Time)
  
  
  Image P/S code: S.11.2.9.1 1
  Image I.D.: 5430
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  Large hailstones

  Hail is a precipitation of particles of ice. Hailstones can be either transparent, or partly or completely opaque. They are generally between 5 and 50 mm in diameter, and although usually spheroidal in shape, they can be somewhat irregular in form. Such irregular lumps are formed by the sticking together of smaller hailstones while still in the cloud, which is clearly indicated here by the knobbly or lumpy appearance. The internal structure of the stones clearly suggest that these large hailstones have formed as a result of the agglomeration of smaller stones.

  Links in the image description will highlight features on the image. Mouse over the features for more detail.

  © Stijn van Puijvelde
  Terneuzen, Netherlands
  Latitude: 51° 19' 15'' N
  Longitude: 3° 50' 29'' E
  10 September 2011 2050 (Local Time)
  
  
  Image P/S code: S.11.2.9.1 2
  Image I.D.: 5465