6. The Hail Before the Twister
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The frequency of hail—especially big hail—can be a major clue that the conditions are right for tornado development. Although not all hailstorms produce tornadoes and not all tornadoes are preceded by hail, the two events are strongly correlated. Within the strong updrafts of severe thunderstorms—the kind of storms capable of creating tornadoes—hail forms. If you have hail, especially if it is heavy or accompanied by strong gusts, it indicates that the storm above you is strong and maybe dangerous. One can especially tell by the size of the hail. While larger hail (golf ball-sized or bigger) is usually associated with supercell thunderstorms, the type most likely to generate tornadoes, little hail (pea-sized or smaller) is frequent in many thunderstorms. Big hail suggests very powerful updrafts inside the storm, able to suspend ice particles long enough to develop to really significant diameters. Furthermore vital for the creation of tornadoes are these strong updrafts. Moreover, the existence of hail usually indicates that the storm has a large temperature gradient with very cold air aloft. This temperature differential can help to create the instability and spin required for tornado generation. If you have hail—especially if it's heavy or protracted—you should be aware for other indicators of strong storms and possible tornado activity. Seek cover indoors away from windows and be tuned to local weather bulletins. Recall that big hail itself can be quite dangerous and inflict major damage even in cases of a tornado not developing. In any extreme weather, always give your safety top priority.
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