Hail Measurement: Maybe a Little Too Precise?

[Guest]

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTH PLATTE NE
322 PM CDT TUE APR 20 2004


THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NORTH PLATTE HAS ISSUED A


* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
NORTHEAST CHERRY COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA


* UNTIL 345 PM CDT


* AT 316 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING NICKEL SIZE HAIL. THIS
STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR VALENTINE...OR ABOUT OVER VALENTINE...AND
MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 35 MPH.


* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE...
8 MILES SOUTHWEST OF SPARKS AROUND 335 PM CDT


AT 315 PM CDTHAIL UP TO 7/8 INCH IN DIAMETER HAS BEEN REPORTED IN
VALENTINE WITH THIS STORM. IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THE
STORM...TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY.


LAT...LON 4299 10055 4283 10065 4264 10020 4299 10019


$$


SPRINGER

Hmm... I see it right now; someone has a ruler out there, getting hail size to the closest 1/8 of an inch.

[wx247]

LOL... yeah. Either that or someone needs to get konked in the head by one.

[senorpepr]

Actually Brian, according to the NWS, they have specific amounts for sizes of hail. When a person estimates the hail to be roughly the size of nickles, the report must be 7/8 of an inch or 0.88"

You can check out all the official hail sizes at this site:

http://www.hremc.org/hail.htm

[Guest]

Actually Brian, according to the NWS, they have specific amounts for sizes of hail. When a person estimates the hail to be roughly the size of nickles, the report must be 7/8 of an inch or 0.88"

You can check out all the official hail sizes at this site:

http://www.hremc.org/hail.htm

I'll be! Thinks Mike! The warning did mention nickles, and according to the link you provided, they were right on the money!

[wx247]

I am just not used to hearing them 7/8" sized hail. They usually use nickel sized hail so that the public is more inclined to know what to expect.

[senorpepr]

It still wouldn't surprise me if someone is out there measuring hailstones like you said.

Actually, this reminds me of observer school for the Air Force. Technically during hail events were are to find the largest hailstone, measure it, then put it in a SPECI observation. The trict of the matter is, the largest hailstone always falls closest to the door -- if you know what I mean.

[senorpepr]

Code: Select all

Hail Size      Description
1/4"   (0.25") Pea
1/2"   (0.50") Marble
3/4"   (0.75") Dime
7/8"   (0.88") Nickle
1"     (1.00") Quarter
1 1/4" (1.25") Half Dollar
1 1/2" (1.50") Ping Pong Ball
1 3/4" (1.75") Golf Ball
2"     (2.00") Egg
2 1/2" (2.50") Tennis Ball
2 3/4" (2.75") Baseball
3"     (3.00") Teacup
4"     (4.00") Grapefruit
4 1/2" (4.50") Softball