Snow is so fascinating, and everyone loves to play with snow. Snowfall is seen in cold areas or regions, mostly in European countries. Snowfall is also seen in Indian states like Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh etc. Snow is water droplets that get iced in cold regions giving it a texture of crushed cotton.
People get confused between Snow and Hail, thinking that both are the same. But Snow is normal, and when these snows get bigger in size, they are called hail. Hail is snow globules that are big in size and drops during a cloud burst or thunderstorm. Snow looks like crystal drops when they fall and get together.
Snow vs Hail
The main difference between Snow and Hail is that Snow is normal ice globules that have an average small size, and it does not harm anyone. And Hail is larger in size as compared to snow and may cause damage to a person if it falls on them because of its weight.
Snow is an iced form of water that is processed in the clouds, and when clouds become heavy, they fall off to the ground. It has a look of crushed cotton and a crystalline structure. Snowfall is normal in European countries because they always have a low-temperature atmosphere.
Hail is also a form of snow, but it is heavier, bigger in size, and looks like a circular object. Hail is processed by the heavy breeze propelling moisture altogether. These processed water drops get iced and become circular in shape. Hail only occurs when the atmosphere becomes worst.
Comparison Table Between Snow and Hail
| Parameters of Comparison | Snow | Hail |
| Definition | Snow is normal ice globules that have an average small size, and it does not harm anyone. | Hail is also a form of snow, but it is heavier, bigger in size, and looks like a circular object. |
| Size | Snowdrops or snowflakes have regular small sizes of around 1.3 centimeters. | The Hail is larger in size and is around 15 centimeters. |
| Structure | They have a crystalline structure, and it looks like a six-sided crystal. | They are spherical crystalline structure and has thick layers of snow. |
| Making process | Snow is an iced form of water that is processed in the clouds, and when clouds become heavy, they fall off to the ground. | Hail is processed by the heavy breeze propelling moisture altogether. These processed water drops get iced and become circular in shape. |
| Forming clouds | It is formed in clouds named Nimbostratus. | It is formed in clouds named Cumulonimbus. |
| Occurrence reason | It occurs when there is a decrease in the temperature of a particular region. | It occurs only when there is the worst atmosphere or storm atmosphere. |
What is Snow?
Snow is formed when the water drops are compressed inside the clouds, and when clouds become heavy, they fall off. Snowfall occurs in low-temperature regions like the European countries where there is always low temperature. The average temperature for the formation of snowfall should be less than 0 degrees Celcius.
Snowflakes have a normal small size and look like crushed cotton having six faces with a crystalline structure. Snowfall, when occurring in heavy quantity, may cause destruction. Nimbostratus are responsible for the occurrence of snow because the formation of snow is done inside them.
Their size is around 1.3 centimeters, and countries with heavy snowfall during the winter season are Finland, Austria, Norway, France, and Switzerland, etc.