Why are hail sizes measured in everyday items? Here’s what to know
Severe weather season runs from March to June every year in North Texas.
April and May hold the most tornadic activity for North Texas since 1880, with more than 1,100 twisters confirmed between the two months, according to National Weather Service Fort Worth data. March is third, followed by June and October.
Tornadoes are not the only activity associated with severe weather season. Other types of activity during the season include lightning, thunderstorms, strong winds, heavy rain and hail.
Just like there are different tornado rating depending on intensity, there’s a similar metric in place for determining hail sizes. Here’s what to know.
How are hail sizes determined?
Anyone who’s seen a weather broadcast has likely heard the meteorologist say “pea-sized” hail or “nickel-sized” hail (or other descriptors) is possible with some storms.
These descriptors are given to help folks realize how big hail is with common items, instead of saying the actual measurement. The NWS categorizes the following sizes by these items:
- Pea size- 0.25 inch
- Marble size- 0.50 inch
- Penny size- 0.75 inch
- Nickel size- 0.88 inch
- Quarter size- 1 inch
- Half dollar or ping pong ball size- 1.50 inch
- Golf ball size- 1.75 inch
- Hen egg size- 2 inch
- Tennis ball size- 2.50 inch
- Baseball size- 2.75 inch
- Softball size- 4 inch
- Grapefruit size- 4.50 inch
Sometimes the NWS also uses other words to relay hail sizes.
For example, “large hail” is used for hail about an inch in diameter. “Very large hail” means any hail around 2 inches in diameter.
This story was inspired by previous reporting from the Star-Telegram’s Brayden Garcia.
