Social media has been flooded with images and videos of hailstorms across the country in the last two weeks. Ice stones in the middle of the March heat! Fascinating, isn't it?

But why has there been so many hail events? What is a hailstorm and how does it impact rural India? Let's find out!

A hailstorm is a weather event where strong updrafting winds cause water droplets to freeze into large ice masses (hailstones), which, when they become heavy enough, fall to earth.

Hailstorms usually bring sharp fall in temperatures. This can relive the stress from the heat, especially in Central and Western India where maximum temperatures had crossed the norms for the season in February itself.

Rains accompanied by hailstorms can damage sensitive rabi crops, especially ready-to-harvest wheat, gram and mustard crops. Many farmers lack storage facilities due to which even harvested crops can get badly damaged.

Closely following the weather forecasts and paying attention to severe weather notifications can allow you to prepare for a hailstorm. You can shift the harvested crops to a safe place for storage or coordinate with other farmers in your area.

Farmers in Himachal Pradesh use anti-hail nets to protect their apple groves, others do regular subsoiling to allow excess water to percolate the soil and minimize the damage.

Poultry owners should ensure animals are inside and can do so if they receive a prior warning.