How Big Can Hail Get?
How big can hail get? Fortunately, the answer to this question is quite simple: it depends on the weather! Learn about the size and speed of hailstones and their impacts on your property. Also learn about the cost of hail damage. Listed below are some common ways hail can damage your property. Keeping these factors in mind, you can better prepare yourself for a storm! Weighing the Cost of Hail Damage
Size of hailstones
The size of hailstones can help determine the extent of damage a storm has caused. To determine the size of hailstones, first estimate their diameter using a ruler or a familiar object. Another method is to take a picture of a square of ground, then place an object of known size within the square. Small hail can also pose a threat, resulting in oversaturated soils and flooding. If this type of hail is too small to cause any damage, it can result in damage to plants and crops.
A supercell superstorm occurred in northern Libya on 23 July 2009 and again on 1 July 2019. Both of these storms produced textbook overshooting tops, which indicate an unstable air mass and large hail is likely to fall. A person can also be seen holding what appears to be giant hailstones. These stones appear to be between 15 cm (6 inches) and 20 cm in diameter. They can be dangerous, however, and in some cases, hail has been fatal.
Speed at which they fall
The size of hailstones varies with their shape, degree of melting, and orientation. Large hailstones can fall at over 100 mph, and some are even over 4 inches across. The fastest hailfalls usually occur during strong thunderstorms, and during the evening hours. Fortunately, there are ways to measure hail and prevent it from forming, such as taking photographs. If you don't have a camera, you can collect the stones and freeze them to measure their size.
The speed of hailstones depends on several factors, including the size of the hailstone, the local wind conditions, and the amount of melting. Historically, scientists thought that hailstones fell like solid ice spheres, but recent research has shown that natural hailstones fall much slower. For example, a baseball-sized hailstone falls at about 9 mph while a quarter-sized hailstone falls at 172 mph.
Damage caused by hailstones
Hailstones can cause significant damage to your car. Fortunately, most car insurance policies cover damage caused by hail. While your car insurance provider won't pay for the full cost of hail repair, they will at least cover the cost of a deductible if the hail damage is the result of your fault. However, you'll still have to pay the rest, and your insurance premium will likely increase.
The size and speed of hailstones determine their damage. The National Weather Service defines a hailstone as severe if it is one inch in diameter, an increase from the previous definition of 3/4-inch. Because hailstones can fall at speeds up to 70 miles per hour, it is important to note that smaller hailstones can cause considerable damage, and insurance carriers sometimes argue that policyholders caused the damage themselves. In addition to damages to vehicles, hail can also cause significant agricultural losses.
Cost of hail damage
The cost of hail damage repair varies greatly, but it can range from $45 to more than $1,000. Small hailstones typically cost under $50 a piece, while large hailstones can be more expensive. Overall, the cost of hail damage repair can top $2,000, including parts and labor. Here are some tips for estimating the cost of hail damage repair.
In most cases, homeowners insurance will cover hail damage, but you must pay a deductible and tangential expenses. This deductible is typically 1 to 5 percent of the insured value. If you live in a high-risk area, you may have a separate deductible. For example, if your home sustained damage from hail, you may have to pay up to $2,200 for mold remediation. A contaminated home may pose a health hazard, so it's important to hire professionals for this work.