Hail Safety

Emily Fay

July 20, 2026

Do you know how to prepare for potential hail? Check out these tips to keep you and your family safe during weather calling for hail.

What is Hail?

Hail is a form of precipitation made of solid ice that forms inside thunderstorm updrafts. Hailstones are formed when raindrops are carried upward by thunderstorm updrafts into extremely cold areas of the atmosphere and freeze. They grow by colliding with liquid water drops that freeze onto the hailstone’s surface. We see hail fall to the ground when it becomes heavy enough to overcome the strength of the thunderstorm updraft and is pulled toward the earth by gravity.

Learn more about how hail is formed from the NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory.

Before a Hailstorm

• Bring your pets inside! Check out these tips to help soothe your pet’s storm anxiety.
• If possible, move vehicles into a garage or another covered area. If shelter isn’t available, consider covering vehicles with a tarp or blankets to help reduce the risk of hailstorm damage.
• Move outdoor items, like furniture, potted plants, garden gnomes, etc., inside or under a covered area.
• Close blinds, curtains, or other window coverings inside your home to help protect against any broken glass.
• Prepare for power outages as hail can damage power lines and disrupt electrical service. Learn more about how to prepare for power outages.
• Stay weather aware! Monitor your local news outlets and ensure your weather radio is charged. Have multiple ways to receive weather alerts, like local news outlets, weather apps, or LexAlerts.

During a Hailstorm

• Go indoors immediately! If you are outside, seek shelter under a covered area. If you can’t find a covered shelter, find something to protect your head and neck.
• Stay out of culverts and lowland areas that might fill suddenly with water.
• If possible, stay away from windows and move to a safe location, like a basement.
• If you’re driving, stay in your vehicle! Slow down and pull over when it is safe. Once safely pulled over, turn away from the windows and cover yourself with a jacket or blanket to help protect yourself from potential broken glass. Make sure to close your car’s inside cloth-covered sunroof panel, if you have one.

After a Hailstorm

• Carefully inspect your home and property for any potential damage. Remember to NEVER touch downed powerlines or anything they are touching. You have no way of knowing if the lines are live, and it can injure you. Report any downed lines to your utility company.
  • The two utility companies that service Lexington/Fayette County are Kentucky Utilities (KU) and Blue Grass Electric (BGE).

Hail Sizes

It’s often difficult to imagine the size of hail without a comparison, which can make preparing for severe weather more difficult and confusing. However, the National Weather Service’s hail size chart helps put hail sizes into perspective.