Many residents of Florida’s Gulf Coast region tend to associate storms producing hail with the winter months when the weather is a bit cooler. After all, hail is really cold, right? It does not seem to make logical sense that hail would form in a hot and humid summer storm. However, according to an article from Weatherbug.com, hail storms actually can be even more common when the weather is warmer or more temperate. Should West Central Florida homeowners be worried about hail storm damage over the summer when most of us are busy preparing for hurricane season?
Hail Formation Does Not Have Much to Do with the Season
As the article explains, hail formation occurs “when strong currents of rising air, known as updrafts, carry droplets of water high enough that they freeze.” The higher these droplets get, the cooler the temperature, even during a hot summer. As an article in The Guardian explains, for every kilometer you rise into the atmosphere (1000 meters or 3280 feet), the temperature drops by around 50 degrees Fahrenheit. With that information in mind, it is easier to see how storm that occurs on a 90-degree day in Tampa can actually produce freezing droplets.
In addition, the stronger an updraft in a storm, the larger a hailstone can be. As the Weatherbug article clarifies, stronger updrafts hold hailstones longer and allow them to grow larger. The strength of an updraft does not have too much to do with the temperature outside your house at any given point on a summer day. In fact, warmer weather might actually result in a stronger updraft. According to a fact sheet from NASA.gov, “updrafts can also be caused by the sun heating the ground,” as “the heat from the ground warms the surrounding air, which causes the air to rise.”
Hailstorms Are Common During Early Summer
What else can produce summer storms that cause hail damage? The Weatherbug article explains that hail storms are actually more common during early summer than most of us would think. The article highlights how regions in which surface temperatures are “warm enough to promote the instability associated with strong thunderstorms,” while the upper atmosphere remains cooler, are the regions that most likely to experience a hailstorm.
In what parts of the United States does this combination of temperatures occur? According to Weatherbug, middle latitudes are where hail is most common in the summer months. What is a middle latitude? In short, it is generally the region that is described as being subtropical-a part of the country that includes a large portion of the southeastern U.S. and all of Florida. As such, residents of West Central Florida should be prepared for property damage, and should act quickly to file a homeowner’s claim.
Contact a Hail Storm Damage Attorney in West Central Florida
Given that a hail storm could occur and cause damage to your property this summer, it is important to be prepared. If your home does get hit, an experienced hail storm damage attorney in West Central Florida can help with your claim. Contact the Valrico Law Group to learn more about our services.