Recent Large Hail from Thunderstorms Unusual, Not Unheard Of

(Des Moines) Recent thunderstorms that dropped golf ball, and in some cases, baseball-sized hail aren’t unheard of for this time of year. The area is the “shoulder season” between spring and summer, which lends itself to strong thunderstorms that can produce large hail. The National Weather Service says hail size and shape depend on two things: how and for how long a hail stone rides updrafts and downdrafts inside a thunderstorm. The longer a hailstone stays inside a storm before falling, the bigger it will likely be.