5 replies to this topic

[LocalOnthe8s]

Can hurricanes produce hail?

[wxtracker93]

LocalOnthe8s, on Sep 6 2008, 01:52 PM, said:

Can hurricanes produce hail?

Good question. I would think the strong to severe thunderstorms within a hurricane can produce hail.

[LongIslandWthr]

http://www.theweathe...habyhints2/403/

[Stormchaser]

LocalOnthe8s, on Sep 6 2008, 01:52 PM, said:

Can hurricanes produce hail?

They seldom produce hail due to the warm-core structure of the hurricane itself. Hail is dependent on one of three meteorological conditions 1) Strong instability over a concentrated area 2) Cold air aloft 3) Significant lapse rates (temp fall with height). A hurricane has none of these things -- the immense latent heat release around the center causes mid level temps to skyrocket, preventing hail formation. The tropopause rises in elevation within a hurricane as warm air is less dense and has a tendency to expand (while colder air is denser, thus smaller thicknesses). With a warm upper level environment it's almost impossible for hail to develop -- but if that weren't enough -- the strong winds circulating around the cyclone quicken the melting process if any hail does form, well before it reaches the ground. Whereas in severe T-storms the strong winds are confined to one powerful downdraft which actually aids in transferring the hail to the surface. Temps aloft are also significantly colder.

You'll also note the lighting and thunder aren't major aspects of a hurricane as the instability is spread out over a huge geographical area, so the energy needed for frequent lightning is not present. Lightning is much more common than hail in hurricanes, but there's no question severe T-storm beat hurricanes in both those departments (hail/lightning).

[icehater]

LocalOnthe8s, on Sep 6 2008, 01:52 PM, said:

Can hurricanes produce hail?

No - it's a warm core storm. Tropical raindrops are very tiny and in fact because of that radar often under represents real rain fall because the rain is a lot less reflective. Far outer bands of hurricanes or trop storms can produce hail though as there the atmosphere aloft isn't as warm, but even there it's rare.

[wxtracker93]

I stand corrected