Difference Between Hail And Snow

Hail and snow are both forms of precipitation, but they are quite different. Hail is a form of solid precipitation that is made up of balls or irregular lumps of ice that are usually smaller than 5 millimeters in diameter. Hail forms when strong updrafts in thunderstorms carry raindrops upward into extremely cold areas of the atmosphere where they freeze. The hail then falls to the ground. Snow, on the other hand, is a form of precipitation in the form of ice crystals that form when water vapor condenses and freezes in the atmosphere. Snow is usually larger than hail and is made up of individual snowflakes. Snow usually falls in the form of light, fluffy flakes and can accumulate on the ground. Snow can also be accompanied by strong winds and low temperatures. Both hail and snow can cause damage to property and can be dangerous to drive in.