The Climate Classroom: How Hail Grows in Colorado

The Climate Classroom - Experiment 2

Colorado's Hail Problem

Colorado ranks among the most hail-prone states in the country, according to data from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The state consistently places between first and fourth nationwide, depending on the measurement used.

To understand why Colorado gets so much hail, I conducted an experiment demonstrating how hailstones form in nature. This is something you can do at home, too!

Experiment Setup

This experiment requires several key materials to work properly.

ICE BATH:

First, you need to create an ice bath in a large tub using a bag of ice , cold tap water, and salt . You'll also need a food thermomete r to measure the ice bath's temperature and a tray of some kind.

You'll need about 1 part salt for