wunder beta

📘 How hailstones grow

See how updrafts, supercooled droplets, accretion, recycling, and melting build hail.

lessons

~10 min

to learn

🔬 Science

subject

Adults

level

Start the course →

What you’ll learn

Ice seed
Updraft
Accretion
Recycling
Size
Falling
Storm structure
Radar clues
Melting
Damage and safety

Questions this course answers

What does hail need to grow?

Updrafts keep the stone aloft while supercooled droplets freeze onto it.

What is accretion?

Accretion adds mass as droplets freeze on the hailstone.

When does hail fall?

The upward support can no longer balance the stone's weight.

Why can a stone have layers?

Changing growth regimes leave distinct textures and layers.

Why is large hail dangerous?

Larger stones carry much more kinetic energy.

Grounded in trusted sources

[object Object]
[object Object]
[object Object]
[object Object]
[object Object]

Every Wunder lesson is built from real, reputable sources — never invented.

Related Science courses

📘How a thunderstorm makes hail 📘How a weather radar sees rain 📘How a tornado tightens 📘How a hurricane gains strength 📘How an atmospheric river carries rain 📘How fog forms near the ground 📘How frost crystals grow 📘How a heat wave persists

Wunder is a personalized learn-anything platform — tell it any topic and it builds a beautiful, fact-checked course in minutes, with narration, a knowledge check, and a college-style University track.

Browse more Science courses · All topics · Home