Hail is a form of precipitation in which water falls to the ground after it becomes solid, i.e. it freezes while going through very cold layers of the atmosphere. Hail stones are irregularly shaped and usually have a diameter of 5-50 mm. They get bigger in the case of electrical storms. In fact, hail causes sometimes devastating damage when accompanied by strong thunder and lightning. Hail is always the result of cumulus clouds.

Hail damage is no joke, because it can cause major damage to buildings (deteriorating roofs, facades, fences, breaking windows etc.), cars, and vegetation (hail can quickly and permanently compromise vegetable crops, knock down tens of hectares of cereals, and “strip” entire orchards of flowers, leaves or fruits). Also, in severe cases, it can kill birds, animals and even people, caught in places where they cannot take shelter.

In general, hail can be fairly accurately predicted by meteorologists, whose warnings must be taken very seriously.

Hail differs in shape and hardness and, at the roof level, it can cause different cracks or bumps. To check if your roof has been damaged, look for scratches or bumps on the cover materials, as well as on the pluvial system; additionally, make sure that the surface of skylights or attic windows is intact.  Professional roofing companies such as https://boext.com/services/roofing-services/ can inspect your roof after storms.