What kind of threat is hail?
Some chasers enjoy the sight and sound of large hail — as long as it is not pounding their vehicles. Besides the obvious danger to vehicles and outdoor equipment, giant hail can kill. On 30 March 2000, a softball-size hailstone killed a young man (not a chaser) in Fort Worth. Falls of baseball-sized hail in China have been known to kill hundreds of unsheltered people within five minutes; while on the Great Plains, hailstorms have left dead livestock behind. Likewise, the chaser can become fair game if venturing outside in hail. [It has been said that storm chasers are hard-headed; but our skulls are not that different from anyone else’s! :-)] Hail can also pose a traffic hazard by covering a roadway and reducing traction, and by causing hail fog, which temporarily limits visibility. Hail danger can be prevented if the chaser is familiar with road networks and is attentive to storm trends and structure.
