Weather Experiment Wednesday: Demonstrating hail formation

TULSA, Okla. — In July’s Weather Experiment Wednesday at Discovery Lab, we showcase hail formation through their new exhibit, "Imaginate."

Hail is formed by strong vertical winds within a thunderstorm that propel water droplets up beyond the freezing line. Those droplets freeze and aggregate into little hailstones. They grow larger as they circulate around the cloud until they are too heavy to be supported by the vertical wind and fall to the ground.

The vertical wind tube in the exhibit is a great demonstration of hail and how objects (like hailstones) with odd shapes and more surface area can rise more readily than perfect spheres.

Watch the video for this demonstration. The Imaginate Exhibit will be at Discovery Lab until November.