How does weather (snow, clouds, hail) affect the production of panels or availability of hot water in a home?
Panels are generally quite durable and built to resist the elements. Hail should not have an impact on your system. Weather will affect the production of your panels, especially on cloudy days when little solar radiation reaches your panels. In the winter, panels may get covered in snow though will generally, slide off within 24 hours once a water slick is created underneath the snow cover.