What is meant by a hailstorm ? Identify the causes behind its formation and explain the impacts of its occurrence along with the preventive measures. (200Words)
Refer - The Indian Express
Enrich the answer from other sources, if the question demands.
IAS Parliament 5 years
KEY POINTS
Hail storm is a solid precipitation in the form of balls or pieces of ice (hailstones) with diameters ranging from 5 to 50 mm or even more. Hail can be extremely dangerous and can cause extensive damage in only a few minutes.
Causes of Hail storm
· It is one of the pre-monsoon storm events occur during convectively unstable atmospheric conditions culminating due to transient disturbances observed in the air mass due to the surface heating.
· There was a confluence of winds coming from Bay of Bengal and Arabian sea which met over Northern India.
· At the same time, jet streams, which are strong winds, were strong winds were passing over Northern plains and helped in deep cloud formation at the lower level.
· Cold winds and low temperatures with western disturbances bringing showers over Northern India lead to hail formation.
Impacts of Hail Storm
· The standing wheat crop, which would have been harvested in
mid-April has been flattened by the hail storm and the damaged crop cannot be retrieved.
· Heavy damage to Vehicles along with severe damage to the roof of house, causing injury to the persons who are without proper shelter.
· Hail storms at this point are undesirable for the mustard, chana (chickpea) and potato crops that are in late-maturity/early-harvesting stage.
Preventive measures
To avoid or minimize personal injury or property damage:
· Move vulnerable items such as cars, equipment and machinery to shelter when a storm threatens, provided such action does not pose a personal risk.
· If caught outside, reduce chances of injury to ourself by crouching down and protecting your head and neck as much as possible.
· Protect pets & livestock. Many are injured each year by hail. Ensure that they have shelter available.
Sandeep 5 years
Kindly review thanks
IAS Parliament 5 years
Good
answer. Keep Writing.
Nandadeep 5 years
Kindly review.thanks
IAS Parliament 5 years
Include the role of western disturbances in the causes of hail formation, which destroys Rabi crops. Keep Writing.
Keeran 5 years
Review please sir.
IAS Parliament 5 years
Try
including about the role of Western disturbances and Jet streams in the causes
of hailstorm. Keep Writing.
