<P> Unlike ice pellets , hailstones are layered and can be irregular and clumped together . Hail is composed of transparent ice or alternating layers of transparent and translucent ice at least 1 millimetre ( 0.039 in ) thick , which are deposited upon the hailstone as it travels through the cloud , suspended aloft by air with strong upward motion until its weight overcomes the updraft and falls to the ground . Although the diameter of hail is varied , in the United States , the average observation of damaging hail is between 2.5 cm ( 1 in ) and golf ball - sized ( 1.75 in ) . </P>
<P> Unlike ice pellets , hailstones are layered and can be irregular and clumped together . Hail is composed of transparent ice or alternating layers of transparent and translucent ice at least 1 millimetre ( 0.039 in ) thick , which are deposited upon the hailstone as it travels through the cloud , suspended aloft by air with strong upward motion until its weight overcomes the updraft and falls to the ground . Although the diameter of hail is varied , in the United States , the average observation of damaging hail is between 2.5 cm ( 1 in ) and golf ball - sized ( 1.75 in ) . </P>
what do you call ice falling from the sky
what do you call ice falling from the sky
Hail
Hail