Most times they are small and not noteworthy. Kids and adults alike find them fascinating.    They have been known to cause over a billion dollars of damage a year to cars and crops in the United States alone.  Hail, which rarely falls for more than 15 minutes at a time in any one location, drops with little warning and a lot of power. The risk of hail denting cars and breaking windshields is especially great during the spring and summer - and especially for people who live in "Hail Alley," a string of southern and central Plains states prone to damaging hailstorms.

Hailstorms are frequent occurrences across the U.S. Most hailstorms occur during either the spring or fall months, are very localized events, and don't cause extensive property damage. However, occasionally hailstones can reach about 1.5 inches in diameter. When this occurs, they can cause significant property damage to cars, windows and siding. When hailstones reach three inches in diameter, they can cause major roof damage.

In preparing for the inevitable hail storm, consider replacing your roof covering with roofing material that received a UL impact resistant classification (UL2218) of Class 4, meets local building code standards and requires minimal upkeep and maintenance.

If you find yourself unprepared when the sky opens and drops tons of ice balls on you, we suggest you do the following

• Seek shelter immediately if you are caught outdoors – preferably not under a tree.
• Stay indoors until the storm subsides.
• Close drapes, blinds or window shades for protection from the possibility of breaking glass.
• Park your vehicle in a garage or under a shelter.
• If driving, pull over to the side of the road – preferably under an overpass or shelter so that you minimize the damage to your vehicle.

Once the storm is over, we suggest you do the following

• Assess the damage to your property.
• Check trees, shrubs and plants around your house.
• Using binoculars check your roof for damage.
• Check patio covers, screens, windows and soft aluminum roofs for damage.
• Check vehicles for dents and broken or cracked glass.
• Cover any broken glass in your car to prevent interior damage.
• Cover any broken windows and holes in your roof.

Hailstone size is often reported as compared to known objects rather than by reporting the actual diameter. Below is a table of commonly used objects for this purpose.