Why Does it Hail in Summer?

It doesn’t seem to make sense that frozen hail happens in the heat of the summer.  Especially here in Texas where summer temperatures can exceed 100 degrees.  How can the hail survive the heat?  Why does it hail in summer?

It is perfectly normal to see hail during the summer.  In fact, most hail storms happen during the warmest months of the year.  During the summer we see massive thunderstorms.  Not only do they deliver torrential downpours, but they also bring hailstones.

Why does hail happen in summer?

Hailstones form in the large cumulonimbus clouds. These enormous storm clouds, which we often link to thunderstorms, rise high in the sky.  They grow large in the summer due to intense heat on the ground in the summer.  The heat causes warm air to rise and form the cloud as water vapor within the warm air condenses.  The clouds rise higher to reach cold air.  As they do, the water vapor inside the clouds turns to ice.

As more droplets continue to freeze, these hailstones grow bigger.  The weight of the stones will eventually cause them to fall to the earth.  This is the hail that damages our homes, cars, and businesses.

Hail is most common in mid-latitudes during early summer where surface temperatures are warm enough to cause strong thunderstorms, but the upper atmosphere is still cold enough to support ice.

This is why we see hail in the summer.  The air on the ground is hot, but it can still be cold enough higher in the sky.

Why Doesn’t the Hail Melt?

It is so hot in Texas.  Why doesn’t the hail melt before it hits you house?  Hailstones fall too fast to melt before reaching the ground.  By comparison, snow falls a lot slower than hail.  Hence the reason it doesn’t snow in July.

If your home or business has been damaged by a summer hailstorm, getting repairs done can be very expensive.  If your insurance company is giving you the runaround and not paying your claim, you need an attorney to help.  Contact Mynor E. Rodriguez today for help.