KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Hail is a possibility amid strong and severe thunderstorms, which puts a lot of valuables in danger. So what can you do about it?
Emily Klaus with the National Weather Service provided some information on hail and what you can do to keep yourself and your belongings safe.
WHAT IS HAIL?
It's not frozen rain, as when that falls, it freezes as it gets near the ground. Klaus explained that hail is made up of solid ice: They're created when rain droplets are carried upwards by a current of air, also known as an updraft.
The updraft in a thunderstorm can be so strong that it'll take the rain droplet and carry it to a point where it'll rapidly freeze into ice, drop back down and carry it up, freezing it again. It gathers more layers of water this way and it keeps going until it's heavy enough to leave the storm.
This is why you may see pieces of ice the size of golf balls, softballs or even grapefruits on the ground. She mentioned that it's rare to see hail this size in the city, but that it's happened before. For instance, the largest hailstone recorded in Kansas measured at 7.75' and it was found in Wichita.
IS IT DANGEROUS?
Absolutely. Mobile homes can be destroyed and windshields can be broken by the right piece of hail falling at the right time.
"We had one co-worker here during a severe weather event and it just blew up their back windshield on the way to work," Klaus said.
In the right (or wrong) conditions, a piece of hail can strike you in the head and do some damage. Large pieces of hail can fall at speeds of 44-72 mph and in one recorded instance in Coffeyville, Kansas, one piece of hail fell at 105 mph.
HOW CAN YOU STAY SAFE?
The first and most important step you need to take is to be situationally aware. If you know a thunderstorm is on the way, take the necessary precautions to keep yourself and your valuable items safe.
Make your plans around the thunderstorm. If you don't have a garage for your car, you might want to find a parking structure that'll keep it protected until the storm has passed.
Stay inside when the storm is in your area. If you're hosting a party that's outdoors, seek shelter immediately and bring any valuables with you. Even if you think it's over, be cautious of hailstones that were ejected from the storm and are taking their time to land.
As Midwesterners, Klaus emphasized that since we understand thunderstorms, we have to plan ahead if it's on the radar. Take the extra steps to make sure everything is safe and sound.
"You can't wear a hard hat the entire day when there's severe weather," Klaus said. "Having things on your phone where you can take charge of the situation, like a radarscope, but also just understanding the hazards that come with it."
