How bad is hail in thuderstorms?

Answer 1

It varies widley. In many cases hail is too small to cause any real harm. Hail 1" in diameter or larger is classified as severe. This is generally consider the threshold for damage, which can include craked windows and dented cars. Large enough hail can cause injury, though deaths from hail are very rare in North America, with only three known cases in the twentieth century. Hail greater than 4" in diameter is rather rare, but can be quite destructive to crops and vehicles. In some cases cars may be totaled. Very large hailstones have been known to smash through roofs.