Fall of Peculiar Hailstones in Kingston, Jamaica

Abstract

SHORTLY after midday on the 2nd inst. a thunderstorm visited this city; the rain began with the wind from the east, as is usual with our May seasons, but it speedily changed to the west, accompanied with much lightning and thunder. Immediately hailstones became mingled with the rain, attention being drawn to their advent by the sharpness with which they struck on the shingled roofs. The west door of the laboratory being open to the air, the hail came in freely, nearly covering the floor for more than 12 feet. The hailstones were of clear ice, inclosing a few bubbles of air, varying from mere points to bubbles of the size of a split pea. The shape of the stones was singular. Suppose a shallow and very thick saucer to have a shallow cup, without a handle, inserted in it, and you will have a good idea of the form of the hailstones when unbroken. Many had more or less lost the “saucer” by violence, while some were entirely without it, presenting the appearance of a double convex lens with faces of different curvature.