Hail is formed when water molecules travel up and down within the wind currents of very tall clouds. Those stormclouds often produce lightning and thunder, but it's a rare thing here in SF. In the mid-West and South stormclouds can become supercells which can generate tornados.

Sleet happens when rain falls into a region of cold air.

Hail is much cooler. And it's been hailing quite a bit around here recently. Last night featured a few nice bolts of lightning and some excellent thunder. There was a minor quake in Berkeley on Friday, and then a few microquake aftershocks. It's been strange weather, if you can call the movement of the earth 'weather'. Of course then there's also 'earthquake weather', which clearly doesn't exist. Yet somehow, animals seem to be able to detect a coming quake before humans. Go figure.

I use Intellicast for the weather, mostly. I've also enjoyed Weatherbonk and Wunderground. The fact is, I'm secretly a weather geek. Or maybe not so secretly, really.

Alright, I'm off to take the temperature. Of my wine.