WEATHER AND POLLUTION

WHY IS HAIL DESCRIBED IN FRUIT SIZES?

During the recent spate of hail storms that swept across much of the eastern part of the nation, we noted that the curious ice balls from the sky have somehow merited description in terms of fruit sizes.

For instance, when hail is only small enough to dent your car or put quite a welt on your head, it’s referred to as “grape-size.”

When its volume increases to another frightening dimension, such as one that can crash through the roof of your house or cold conk you, it’s called “hail the size of grapefruits.”

Noting the escalating magnitude of the plummeting pellets, we have begun to wonder if our future holds even more enormous ice-cold fruit, such as “hail that’s honeydew-size” or – dare we even imagine the consequences? – “hail the size of watermelons.” 

If such enormities should ever begin to fall on us, they will no doubt create an up-tick in the demand for 1950s-style bomb shelters.

Let us leave you with this defensive advice.  When hail begins to fall, don’t wait to determine what the fruit size.  Duck indoors.  And, if the pelting balls ever do approach the fearsome size of watermelons, add an extra measure of protection and head for the basement. 

While crouched there, let us wonder if the escalating size of hail could be Mother Nature’s way of throwing stones at us to warn us that global warming is not going to be pleasant?  

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