Expect to find more than one injury. Victims of lightning receive an electrical shock but they do not carry an electric charge. Hail storms Hail is formed when updrafts in thunderclouds carry raindrops up into extremely cold areas of the atmosphere, where they freeze and merge into lumps of ice. When the lumps become too heavy to be supported by the updraft, they fall to the ground at high speeds. The largest hailstone in Canada weighed in at 290 g at Cedoux, Sask., on Aug. 27, 1973.
Hail can be extremely dangerous, particularly when accompanied by strong winds.
Shelter cars, machinery and equipment in a garage or shed. Stay indoors until the hailstorm has passed. If you are caught outdoors, crouch down and protect your head and neck.